Hatters roll up sleeves for Earth Day cleanup
Cool weather couldn’t keep Hatters inside this Earth Day as community cleanup efforts took place across the city.
Methanex employees and their families began the day by clearing garbage and other debris from the Methanex
Bowl and Big Marble Go
Centre property, as well as the Methanex plant site. Approximately 75 employees and their families took part in the annual cleanup effort for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic.
“(It’s) part of our company culture as a responsible care company,” plant manager Brad Apking told the News. “We want to give back to the community and be good environmental stewards ... (It’s about) having some responsibility for the areas that we live in. It’s also just ... a good opportunity to send a good message to our kids and families as well as a little togetherness.”
The City of Medicine Hat is hoping Hatters will come together to take part in the week-long community cleanup initiative, which kicked off Friday and continues until April 30.
“For Earth Day 2022 ... we are encouraging residents to get out and help beautify our city by cleaning up litter from around each neighbourhood,” a statement from the city read. “Now is the time for the unstoppable courage to preserve and protect our health, our families and our livelihoods ... It’s going to take all of us — businesses, governments and citizens.”
The city will be hosting morning coffee followed by a community barbecue to wrap up the initiative on April 30 at 7:30 a.m. at Kin Coulee Park. Attendees are asked to bring their own reusable cup.
Several other events will be running in honour of Earth Day, including the South East Alberta Watershed Alliance’s volunteer event, which begins at 8:50 a.m. Saturday in the Connaught pond parking lot, as well as the Medicine Hat Interpretive Program’s Earth Day Bash, a learning event targeted toward youth and families, running from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Police Point Park.