OLDS — The sixth Lions Pick Up Garbage (PUG) Day in Olds will be held on May 27.
This will mark the sixth year that the event, organized by the Olds Lions Club with help from the Town of Olds, has been held in the community.
Although PUG Day is officially on May 27, local residents were able to do their cleanup the evening of May 26, the afternoon of May 27, or during the weekend (May 28 and 29) if they wish.
LIONS is an acronym for “Local Initiative in Olds for Neat Surroundings.”
The club budgeted $2,000 for the project. Club reps asked the Town of Olds to provide $1,000 to help cover costs for newspaper advertising and the purchase of five tablets to be used as prizes at each of the schools participating in the event.
Council voted to provide that money.
A request for decision from administrative staff noted the Town of Olds had also been asked to help out by providing garbage bags and gloves to members of the public and the Lions Club, arranging to pick up garbage bags at selected sites and advertising the event via the newspaper and social media.
Radio station interviews are anticipated as well.
Administrative staff noted the goal of the PUG Day is to make Olds “the cleanest town in Alberta.”
In a letter to council, Lions Club reps Henry Czarnota and Marvin Manz said all five schools in the community have been contacted to participate in the cleanup, as they have in previous years. Participating students will have a chance to win a tablet via a draw.
“Each principal will be assigned an area of Olds for his/her school to clean. Students will work in small groups under the supervision of school personnel and according to their safety protocols,” Czarnota and Manz wrote.
Organizers also planned to contact representatives of CP Rail, the Olds and District Chamber of Commerce, and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #105 with hope that all of those organizations will support the project as well.
Manz and Czarnota noted the club’s long-term goal is to encourage the entire community to participate in PUG Day.
“We also appreciate the added benefits the town provides by highlighting PUG Day in the community calendar and in general conversation with citizens,” they wrote.
“A special thanks is extended to town staff who so ably co-ordinates the important town resources we require to be successful.”
“I think this is a great program,” Coun. Harvey Walsh said as he moved a motion for the Town of Olds to provide the money as requested.
Mayor Judy Dahl agreed.
“I recall the very first PUG Day that was done and it’s very well received and very necessary for the town of Olds for cleanup, etc.,” she said. "Many families attend this and it’s quite a family affair for sure.”
“I concur,” Coun. Heather Ryan said. “It’s beautifying the town and it’s a good day, seeing everybody out and about and doing their part.”
