It's a first for Saskatchewan and it's an initiative that has been launched right here in Yorkton.
Partnering with SIGN (Society for the Involvement of Good Neighbors) and the City of Yorkton, last week the YBID (Yorkton Business Improvement District) announced a unique to Yorkton initiative that will see the downtown core looking clean and kempt.
"On behalf of our 400 or so members (YBID) that we have in the district, it's part of our mandate to make the district more modern looking, clean looking - a place where people want to work, where people want to come shopping and of course a place to which we want more businesses to become attracted," spoke YBID Executive Director Phil DeVos at last Wednesday's announcement.
As of that day, there will be three employees on duty in the downtown core, taking to the streets with a special cart picking up garbage and recyclables in an effort to keep the city clean.
"It's called the Clean Street Program," says Chairman of the YBID Board Corvynn Neufeld. "Through the program, Monday to Friday, there will be employees of SIGN who will be walking through the district picking up trash... any recyling will be recycled and any proceeds will go back into the program."
The program will be funded by YBID and will continue until the snow falls.
"YBID is very pleased to be involved with this. It fits our mandate - to make the business district an attractive destination for people to come as customers and also for our businesses. We've been involved in many different projects to try and make our district more attractive... we've added trash cans, benches, flower pots, the downtown park, murals... and this fits in really well."
Neufeld says there are a couple of additional projects in the works and that residents can look forward to hearing more in the coming weeks.
Speaking on behalf of SIGN was new Executive Director Andrew Sedley.
"We're very excited to be a part of this initiative. We have three very excited individuals who are ready to help to make our community a cleaner place. The pride we'll show in the community by cleaning up the YBID is amazing and I think that as a community we can all take the lead from these three individuals and from YBID so we all have more of an ownership of our community to create a brighter business district for all... We expect this to be a lasting partnership and one that we are all excited to be involved with.
"If you're out in the community and you see these three individuals cleaning stop by say hello, say thanks and maybe follow in their footsteps in making our community a cleaner and brighter place for all."
Last but not least to speak was Yorkton's Mayor James Wilson on behalf of the City of Yorkton, who DeVos says is an important partner in this venture.
The fact of the matter is, says Wilson, is that not all change happens at city council. "It happens with organizations and people in the community who work to make our community a great place. If you look at our downtown core from where it was 10 years ago to where it is today, with the improvements we've made, we've become the envy of communities throughout Saskatchewan... We're proud to be a part of this..."
DeVos concluded by saying this is a one-of-a-kind partnership and one that will do the city well. "I just want to reiterate the responsibility of the sidewalks from a snow removal perspective, from a trash perspective, is the responsibility of the businesses... they don't look after the street but they are responsible for the sidewalks." Thus the involvement of the YBID. "Yorkton has been first with a lot of other venues throughout our history and this is another first."
