Baldy Hughes graffiti removal service deemed a success

A graffiti removal service run out of Baldy Hughes has earned accolades.

From May 1 to Aug. 31, clients at the therapeutic centre and farm removed graffiti from 34 buildings around the city under a services agreement with the city. About half are located in the downtown and a further half dozen in the Carter light industrial area.

Going out and “literally knocking on doors” and letting people know they could help was a big reason for the number, social planning manager Chris Bone told city council on Monday night.

Last year, they relied on responding to reports to the city.

“We had several comments from downtown businesses very pleased with the service provided,” Bone said and added that one of their largest jobs was to repaint an entire side of the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society building on Second Avenue.

“And to date – I checked recently – it has not been tagged,” she said.

She said Baldy Hughes is paid a “very reasonable” service fee and in turn, it was used to purchase some playground equipment and basketball hoops to give the children of clients a place to play when they pay a visit to the site about 30 kilometres southwest of the city.

“We had a great working relationship with Baldy Hughes. They were responsive and I really hope that we are able to renew this initiative next year,” Bone said.

Mayor Lyn Hall called the initiative a “very successful campaign.”