May 2, 2023, Treaty No. 1 territory, Winnipeg, MB – The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ is once again hosting its annual community cleanup in celebration of Earth Day. Community members, residents, downtown workers, and Downtown Winnipeg BIZ staff along with Mayor Scott Gillingham will meet for a short celebration and refreshments, before heading outside and working as a team to clean up as much litter as possible following the spring melt.
“With over 150 participants registered, we can see there is a real commitment to care for this neighbourhood and help make our downtown clean and welcoming for all,” says Kate Fenske, CEO of Downtown Winnipeg BIZ. “Whether we’re coming together to catch a game or a show, or pitching in to make the neighbourhood look its best, downtown’s community spirit is alive and well.”
The event has helped tidy up downtown every year since 2014, except for 2020. In 2022, 928 kilograms of litter and 16 bags of recyclables were collected by participants over the course of the two-hour event.
“I hope Earth Day Cleanup Downtown reminds Winnipeggers how meaningful it is to work together for the greater good,” says Mayor Scott Gillingham. “Downtown is the place for us to connect, and why not do that while making a difference for the Earth and for our city?”
Earth Day CleanUp Downtown provides a helping hand to Downtown Winnipeg BIZ’s Enviro Team, who works seven days a week to keep downtown looking its best. In 2022, the team picked over 27,000 pails of litter, removed more than 6,000 graffiti tags and cleaned transit shelters over 5,200 times.
Event participants will receive a complimentary CleanUp package which includes an upcycled reusable Downtown Winnipeg BIZ tote bag, information sheet, and supplies donated by Recycle Everywhere.
Earth Day Cleanup Downtown was scheduled for Apr. 20 but was postponed due to a poor weather forecast.
MEDIA INQUIRIES
Pamela Hardman
Director of Marketing, Engagement and Communications
Cell: 204-806-2506
Email: pamela@downtownwinnipegbiz.com