For better or worse, the City of Estevan has decided to re-enter the Golden Garbage Can Competition.
Dormant since 2003, the competition is a battle between Estevan and Weyburn to see which community is the cleanest. Although Estevan last won the Golden Garbage Can in 2001, Weyburn held a lopsided advantage overall, prompting the council of the day to back out of the competition in an apparent effort to save face.
Seven years later the current members of council have decided the time is right to get back in the Golden Garbage Can game.
It was announced at the regular meeting of council Monday the competition will take place June 21. Councillor Lynn Chipley will serve as chairwoman for the Estevan side. She noted the City was approached by officials from Weyburn about resuming the competition and felt with the strides that have been made locally the timing was right.
"I think we're up the challenge and I think it is probably timely because of the good things that have happened over the past couple of years specifically related to cleaning up the city," said Chipley. "I think we should be able to put on a good show."
Although many of the details have yet to be ironed out, Chipley said the plan is to break the city into five different areas. They then hope to find a volunteer in each area who would serve as a captain as sorts, checking to make sure their sector is ready for the competition.
"I don't want to make any of the volunteers the bad guys," said Chipley. "All I am going to ask is that they drive their areas and if they notice something, red flag it and report it to me and we will just go through the regular bylaw enforcement process. We are not going to ask our citizens to be the cops."
Chipley said the City also plans to offer an incentive to residents to make their area the cleanest.
"There are people always calling (Leisure Services Manager) Helen Fornwald and saying can you put a bench here, we walk this area all the time. So whichever area wins they can decide where they would like a park bench whether it is in a park or on a street or whatever."
Although the City has a somewhat embarrassing record when it comes to the competition, Chipley said whether Estevan wins or loses the Golden Garbage Can, everyone is a winner if it makes the City cleaner.
"It's a win-win regardless if it gets people on board," said Chipley who feels the City is better positioned to compete due to changes such as the switch to automated garbage pickup.
"I drive the city front and back now, I am in people's back alley's whether they like it or not, and in the 20 years I have been doing this I can see a profound difference in our alleys. It has gone so far to cleaning up debris."
