GETTING INVOLVED FOR A CLEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD

Everybody wants to live in a clean, healthy neighbourhood. We don't want to see litter in the streets. We want clean parks and places for our kids to play. We share our neighbourhoods with businesses and we expect them to operate responsibly. Shared pride and responsibility is what makes a community.

Keeping a neighbourhood liveable is a lot easier than trying to clean up neglect. Getting involved in keeping your community clean is a great way to meet your neighbours and contribute to an effort that benefits everybody.

There are many ways you can get involved. First, you might want to look at what environmental groups are already active in your region, and join them. For instance, conservation authorities operate in most regions of Ontario, working to protect watersheds and manage conservation areas.

School-based programs like EcoSchools encourage kids and families to get involved in local environmental activities and clean-up efforts. Groups like the Evergreen Foundation promote tree planting in urban environments. These are just two of many examples that could be found near where you live.

A lot of attention to community clean-up happens during Earth Week (around April 22). Watch for events in your area; it's a good chance to meet all the local groups and find ways to get involved.

If none of these choices works for you, or if you see an issue that needs addressing, you can consider starting your own residents' association. Hold an open meeting or circulate a petition to see who else shares your concerns. It's amazing how much influence a few dedicated people can have.

Conservation Ontario
EcoSchools
Evergreen Foundation
Earth Day Canada