Hello;

This article is a follow-up to the previous Beach Cleanup article posted on April 5/2011.  The title of the original article may have led you to believe that Westboro Beach will be the focus of the cleanup activity.  That is not the case.  It is our goal to do a cleanup of the entire Westboro Beach community.  That is a big task, but if sufficient people volunteer a few hours of their time, we can get the job done.

Weather permitting the neighborhood cleanup will take place on Saturday, April 30, from 10:00am to 1:00pm.  The rain date is Sunday, May 1, from 10:00am to 1:00pm.

Unlike last years cleanup activity, we are setting up three cleanup stations where volunteers will meet to assign areas that need cleaning up, pickup cleaning supplies, and drop off litter.  The three cleanup stations are:

Station #1: Westboro Beach parking lot.
Station #2: Corner of Beechgrove Ave. and Lanark Ave.
Station #3: Corner of Clearview Ave. and  Remic Ave.
This year the WBCA has registered with the "Cleaning the Capital" campaign.  For additional information visit their website at:  http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/environment/community/capitalcleaning/index_en.html.

Use the following safey tips, from Cleaning the Capital campaign, to ensure that safety comes first:

• supervise children in their cleanup efforts and emphasize that safety comes first.
• wear gloves and appropriate footwear.
• wear pants and long-sleeved shirts.
• read and follow safety instructions on graffiti removal products
• if cleaning near a roadway, wear a safety vest and clean only the non-travelled portion of a roadway.
• be aware of your surroundings and the potential hazards (i.e. poison ivy, streams and branches) and remember to put on protective eyewear as necessary.
• have a hand washing station available for volunteers.
• do not lift heavy objects.
• never touch a needle with your hands. Call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) for disposal information and assistance.
• Children must never touch items like glass, broken wood, metal, needles, or household hazardous waste. It’s a good idea to double up your garbage bags for transporting these items.

Best wishes
WBCA executive