Close to 450 people attended the Envision Innisfail Green and Clean kick-off party last weekend and celebrated the beginning of the first ever town clean up.
More than 850 hamburgers were served at the green barbeque throughout the day and participants stepped up to the plate adopting various areas of the town to clean over the next month and a half.
Residents and businesses looking to do their part in the clean up have currently adopted about 80 per cent of the town so far. About 35 per cent of the town had been adopted before the barbeque but those who attended the kick off event picked up the other 45 per cent.
A town map was on display at the barbeque showing all of the streets that have been adopted.
“Having the map was great - you were really able to see the results (of people adopting streets),” said Jennifer Henschel, with the Town of Innisfail community services department, adding that people were really starting to see there was a need for the clean up.
More than 400 pairs of gloves, 200 puncture proof surgical gloves, and around 200 garbage bags were handed out to participants at the barbeque.
There are, however, several parts of town that still need to be adopted.
“The area around Dodd’s Lake still has not been adopted and neither has the area behind the Extra Foods,” said Henschel.
Although the town was prepared for about 1,000 people to attend the barbeque they were still happy with the number of people that showed up considering this is the first year the town has hosted the event, said Henschel, adding that she hopes the event continues to grow and numbers climb over the next few years.
Those who attended the barbeque also got to take in some local entertainment, participate in a recycling sorting game, and visit with Otis the owl from the Kerry Wood Nature Centre.
Anyone who has signed up to clean an area of town has until June 30 to complete the clean up. Those still interested in adopting an area of town can still sign up by contacting Jenn Henschel at the Town of Innisfail community services office at 403-227-1920.
