Medicine Hat Skateboard Association breaks stereotypes, gives back to community with downtown garbage cleanup

Jade Ritchie, director of the Medicine Hat Skateboard Association, says, “today we’re doing our second annual downtown garbage cleanup. We did one last year in the rain, it’s a lot nicer this year luckily for us.”

Last year the city lifted a bylaw that prevented skaters from going to parts of downtown.

Ritchie says the cleanup is part of an effort to show their appreciation to the city.

“Lots of the stereotypes are damaging property, being reckless, the delinquent stereotype of a skateboarder. We just wanna do stuff like this to show that we’re not just a bunch of hooligans who just destroy stuff. We wanna build it up, and I think we’ve done a pretty good job of building that reputation and we just wanna keep it going,” says Ritchie.

Zach Fischer has been a part of the skateboard association since he was nine.

He views the garbage pickup as a way to strengthen their relationship with the community.

“It’s definitely a really good thing to improve the image of skateboarders cause some people get the wrong idea. Sometimes they think we’re just bad kids. It’s definitely a good step in the right direction,” Fisher explains.

Now Fischer teaches at Skate Skool, and wants to show his students what it means to give back to the city.

Fischer says, “it’s a good experience, especially growing up, being taught by the older guys, it’s like I get to give back to the community too, it’s awesome.”

Many of the students at Skate Skool were helping pick up garbage. Brothers Lukas and Lynden Hourie enjoyed being involved with the community and helping the environment.

”Making it cleaner, better for the animals,” says Lukas.

“That we get to spend time with the skateboard association,” add Lynden.

The organizers ensured that this was a safe and fun experience for everyone involved, especially the kids.

“No glass, no needles, everybody’s wearing gloves, yeah nothing sharp,” says Ritchie.

And while this is only the second year of the operation, the association plans to make it an annual thing.

“I think it’s something, I don’t see why we wouldn’t keep doing it. It’s fun and it’s good for our city,” says Ritchie.

About 30 volunteers showed up to participate in the downtown cleanup. Even some people out for a walk were inspired to help clean up with the skateboarders.

by Lisa Parent

Medicine Hat Skateboard Association breaks stereotypes, gives back to community with downtown garbage cleanup

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