By Scott Roblin

Weather clears for annual Litter Blitz

Apr 22, 2017 | 5:27 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Some spring cleaning around the city on Saturday morning, as residents loaded up on garbage bags for the annual ‘Litter Blitz.’

Held as part of Earth Day celebrations across Medicine Hat, residents were encouraged to pick up garbage from this past winter around the city.

One of the groups taking part was the Medicine Hat Paddling Club, as they trekked through Seven Persons Creek in Kin Coulee Park collecting waste.

President Rick Redmond said they feel a personal connection to the Seven Persons Creek.

“We put in out by Desert Blume, we come right down through town, a couple of places where we get around the weirs, but we make it all the way to the South Saskatchewan River from here,” said Redmond. “So, the club feels we need to do our part to get it cleaned up if we’re going to use it over the course of the summer.”

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This was the second consecutive year the club had taken part, with the group finding over 30 bicycles, over 60 skateboards, and a number of shoes in 2016.

Redmond said it’s the responsibility of the community to pitch in from time to time.

“The Litter Blitz is very important,” he said. “I mean we’ve got lots of great parkland in town, but we need a good clean up once a year. It’s important in conjunction with Earth Day, but between all the parks and all of the rivers, let’s get it cleaned up for the citizens of Medicine Hat, and that way everybody can enjoy it.”

Other popular areas of the city included along the Trans-Canada Highway and off of College Drive.

Redmond said it’s encouraging to see the increase in participation this year.

“I think it’s fantastic,” he said. “I mean, it’s good recognition of the people, what their views on the environment [are], and their views on seeing it cleaned up. It’s a real contest here and we got a lot of new members to the club, I’m glad to see all the new members out this year.”

Participants in the coulee on Saturday received a free Paddling Club membership, while all volunteers were treated to a barbecue lunch during the afternoon.