A clean-up blitz was undertaken by members of the community Wednesday morning, May 14, to add a sparkle to the downtown Maple Ridge core.
More than 80 people were registered for the Downtown Maple Ridge Sparkle Week Clean-up Blitz, held in collaboration between the City of Maple Ridge and the Downtown Maple Ridge Business Improvement Association, (DMRBIA).
The participants, who were from a variety of organizations and community groups, met at the bandstand in Memorial Peace Park to check in.
Jeff Baker, business retention and expansion advisor for the City of Maple Ridge, said the event is critical to the downtown.
"It is letting the community show support for the neighbourhood downtown. It's also showing that, you know, we care about this place and that we have to play a part as a community to come together to show the love for this part of our city," he said.
Linda Aardmaa, who was with a group of around 14 people from Hannah House InnerVisions Recovery Society, said it was a great cause to help the community out.
Mahit Enan, who was also with InnerVisions, said part of their program is reintegrating clients back into society, so they enjoy participating in community events for the city.
"We feel that volunteering is a good way to show our appreciation just for how much the community supports us," he said. "We're very happy to be here."
Debi Picco was with a group from the Maple Ridge Street Outreach Society. She said they were there because they are a part of Maple Ridge.
"We want to contribute to keeping the city clean," she said.
Groups fanned out shortly after 9:30 a.m., after remarks from the City of Maple Ridge and the DMRBIA, and after safety vests, garbage bags, and trash pickers were handed out.
Volunteers returned to the bandstand at around 11:30 a.m. for a picnic lunch in the park.
