The Helen Schuler Nature Centre has kicked off its annual Coulee Cleanup program.
This year will feature an adventure-style environmental challenge.
Residents are able to earn virtual badges for a chance to win prizes from local businesses.
Each year, nearly 1,000 residents collect enough garbage and litter to fill 400 garbage bags from different areas in the river valley.
“Citizen efforts toward conservation projects make an actual real difference. Cities that don’t have the same challenges don’t enjoy quite the pristine landscapes that we end up with here because of things like Coulee Cleanup,” said Chelsea Sherbut, Helen Schuler Nature Centre resource development co-ordinator.
“It’s also just a good way for people to feel connected with nature.”
“Over the last 10 years, we’ve seen some real noticeable success for Lethbridge. I think activities taking place, in terms of waste reduction and diversion, have been a real success,” said Kathleen Sheppard, Environment Lethbridge executive director.
“When it comes to water, people in Lethbridge are passionate about water—we saw that last year with the drought and again this year with people being very concerned with water quality, so people over time are increasingly engaged and increasingly involved.”
In an effort to help residents learn about Coulee Cleanup, Environment Lethbridge has launched its Green YQL website—a central hub for all environmental and sustainability information in the city.
The site aims to allow visitors to “find local opportunities and resources to learn, connect and take action.”
