Earth Day

10 SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 2022 EARTH DAY 2022 By Wendy King S pring is beginning to buzz, and Down- town Winnipeg BIZ is looking for 150 "BIZzy" bees in the neighbourhood — workers and residents alike — to come out and pitch in for Earth Day at the annual Earth Day CleanUp Downtown event on Friday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. "Earth Day CleanUp Downtown is a planned event which provides support and supplies for members of our vibrant downtown communi- ty to come together and remove litter from the neighbourhood," says Saz Massey, marketing and communications co-ordinator at Down- town Winnipeg BIZ. Downtown Winnipeg BIZ is extending that invitation to anyone who works or lives down- town. For residents, the community cleanup is one opportunity to be part of the bigger Earth Day picture as they put "spring" back into their step and greet the neighbours after a long winter. The 2021 cleanup gave downtown employees a chance to safely reconnect outdoors. "This year, as participating businesses are just beginning to return to the office and get back in the swing of in-person work, our Earth Day CleanUp Downtown is a wonderful team-build- ing activity," says Massey. "We've heard it's a great way for downtown workers to feel a sense of belonging in the downtown community while doing good for the planet." Earth Day CleanUp Downtown will cover the entire Downtown Winni- peg Business Improvement Zone. "Teams will meet up at six dif- ferent locations including Chi- natown, on Portage Avenue, at The Forks, in Memorial Park, at the Millennium Library and the Manitoba legislative grounds," says Massey. "Each area of downtown will have its designated meeting spot, and participants who sign on will be notified of their meeting loca- tion in advance." The event will take place rain or shine. "All folks need to do is be dressed for the weather and the activity and we'll provide the cleanup equipment." All Earth Day CleanUp Downtown partici- pants will be equipped with compostable gloves, eco-friendly garbage bags and a map of their designated area. "We'll even have a few garbage-grabbing tools to help," says Massey. Once participants arrive at their designat- ed location, Downtown Winnipeg BIZ staff will hand out the equipment and guide them through the process. From there, they can go off individually or in small groups to pick up litter in their areas. "Everyone will get a map so they know where to go and to ensure no teams overlap," she says. "When they fill a bag, they leave it with a Downtown Winnipeg BIZ staffer and at the end of the event, our Enviro Team will collect all the bags around downtown." Wish you could join in but can't make the event? If you are a Downtown Winnipeg BIZ member or you work and/or live downtown, you can get a self-guided cleanup kit for use in the downtown area. "Just email us to register with the size of your group and pre-order your kits for pick up the week of April 20–22 at the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ office at 426 Portage between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.," she says. "Self-guided kits include gloves, garbage bags and a cleanup information package all bundled together in a Downtown Winnipeg BIZ reusable bag." Self-guided downtown cleanup kits are avail- able while supplies last at downtownwinnipeg- biz.com. Earth Day CleanUp Downtown participants will be entered to win Downtown Winnipeg BIZ gift cards, and participants who pre-order for the self-guided cleanup will be entered for a chance to win a $25 downtown gift card. Clean up with Downtown BIZ Downtown Winnipeg BIZ staff pick up litter near the legislative building in 2021. (Photo courtesy of Downtown Winnipeg BIZ) A Downtown Winnipeg BIZ staff member shows the Chinatown CleanUp team of volunteers, including members of the Downtown Community Safety Partnership, a map of the CleanUp area. (Photo courtesy of Downtown Winnipeg BIZ) " Earth Day Clean- Up Downtown is a planned event which provides support and supplies for members of our vibrant down- town community to come together and remove litter from the neighbourhood." – Saz Massey Marketing and communications co-ordinator

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