Program making a clean sweep

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/08/2010 (5608 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Manitoba Metis Federation initiative is helping clean up North End alleyways and give participants an opportunity to rejoin society.

It’s My Community Too, an urban beautification initiative, recently began its second season of operation. A joint initiative of the MMF and the city, it was originally launched in 2009.

The program offers participants em­ploy­ment training and life skill development while beautifying specific areas of the city, including the North End and Elmwood. Program participants must complete a classroom component prior to beginning clean-up efforts.

The alleys near Stella Avenue in the North End was the first area chosen for 2010. Last week crews were there cutting grass, picking up trash and painting over graffiti.

Participant Robert Chartrand said the program has already had a huge impact on his life.

“I had no job experience and no identification,” he said. “Now I have things like a SIN number, birth certificate and other identification. It has helped a lot.”

Kerry Smith, the MMF’s human resource development manager, said the aim of the program is to help individuals overcome some of the day-to-day hurdles they face in their lives.

“Many of the workers have a history of either poor work ethic or haven’t gotten a fair shake from employers,” she said.

Smith said Stella was chosen because of the unsightliness of many of the yards in the neighbourhood.

“We drove around the city and found that Stella Avenue certainly fit the bill,” she said.

Ken Werner, owner of Winnipeg Old Country Sausage on Dufferin Avenue, said he is glad the Stella area was chosen.

“The alley is terrible,” Werner said. “We have been constantly cleaning it and dealing with old furniture, tree branches left all over the alley. I’ve been here for 40 years and the last 15 or so it has gotten worse.”

David Kim, owner of Pop’s Grocery along McGregor Avenue, said he has noticed a difference in the neighbourhood in the past few weeks.

“The neighbourhood looks better. They’re doing good work,” he said.

The project was first conceived by a community member and brought to the MMF.

“We took the idea and met with the city on how it would work. Last year the program resulted in six trainees working for 15 weeks. It went so well we brought in a second crew,” Smith said, adding four crews are planned for this year.

Smith said community residents have been supportive of the endeavor. Flyers were distributed to homeowners in the North End, informing residents that the clean-up crews would be in the neighbourhood.

Program participant Vern Foster said the community has responded well to their efforts.

“We’ve received nothing but positive feedback. Now we’re at the point where we’re heading into more of a maintenance period on areas we’ve already worked on,” he said.

On-site co-ordinator Walter Chartrand said area residents have been grateful for the efforts of the clean-up crews.

“A few residents have offered to pay us, but that’s not really what we’re here for,” he said.

The program is expected to operate until mid-November.

rob.brown@canstarnews.com