History
...from its beginnings in late 1975 through the 90's and beyond.
1975
Outdoors Unlittered and the Federation of Calgary Communities entered into an agreement with The City of Calgary to establish a "Clean Calgary Committee" as a local arm of Outdoors Unlittered. The groups' purpose was to conduct a project fashioned after the Keep American Beautiful Program, which involved extensive photometric litter indexing in conjunction with a variety of community clean-up activities.
1977
Members felt strongly that much more could be accomplished if they expected their mandate to include all types of pollution with emphasis on education and awareness.
1978
In January Clean Calgary became an autonomous body with a promise from The City of Calgary to provide a Fee for Service Grant. By November, a new mandate was developed, a full-time coordinator hired and the new Clean Calgary Committee began to function as the only group of its kind in Canada.
1979
The committee became a registered society and conducted a variety of programs, including Clunker Week involving the free pick-up of derelict vehicles; School Poster Contest; River Clean Up and a Recognition Awards Program. The committee also addressed concerns such as pollution in the Bow River, election signs and pamphlets creating litter, the effect of activities on Glenmore Lake which could result in pollution of our water supply, and so on.
1982
Having obtained Charitable Organization Status, the group was ready to seek funding apart from the City's Fee for Service Grant. Its programs now include a major Spring Clean-up Campaign which reached all segments of our city (community groups, businesses, schools, service organizations, churches) with a strong educational component along with actual cleaning up. Awareness activities were also provided for members, i.e. experts attended meeting to talk about hazardous waste, water, air and noise pollution. Clean Calgary's reputation as a strong proactive environmental organization was such that its Executive Director was appointed as the first woman to sit on a Provincial Panel to investigate and prepare recommendations on noise pollution in Alberta.
1990
Throughout the years that followed, Clean Calgary continued to conduct programs geared to creating a clean and healthy environment in Calgary with ever increasing emphasis on education, awareness and recognition. Services and projects included the Environmental Picnic in the Park, Team Up Clean Up, Early Childhood to Grade 2 Education Video, Jr. High Environmental Program, Environmental Resource Library, Talking Yellow Pages information lines, Workshops, Displays, Speakers, Mascot Visits etc. We also participated with The City of Calgary in several programs including the SMOG FREE and Clean your Alley campaigns.
As a result of ongoing evaluation of programs and services, it became clear in early 1991 that simply providing information and encouragement was not enough to keep the "environment movement" moving. Rather, it was apparent that new programs were needed which would facilitate the process of change. The first such project was The Great Paint Exchange. During 1992, two exchanges were conducted which diverted some 45,000 cans of usable paint from the waste stream and ensured the proper disposal of the remaining 20,000 cans. The same concept was used in a Christmas Treasure Exchange which involved redirecting reusable items to families in need over the holiday season.
Early in 1993, Clean Calgary embarked on another new program focusing on waste minimization through reduction and reuse. The WINshop (Waste It Not Shop) project involves the following activities:
- gathering goods and materials that would otherwise be disposed of from the manufacturing, business and private sectors;
- finding "practical" methods of reusing materials gathered with the help of volunteers, students and the general public;
- conducting workshops which provide information on waste reduction and an opportunity for participants to make specific projects;
- providing informational displays on...how to avoid and/or eliminate overpackaging...goods made from recycled materials...creative ways to renew useful items that might otherwise be discarded;
- opening a shop where project kits and/or materials can be purchased at a nominal cost;
- providing a clearing house for goods and materials such as office supplies, and other usable items;
- promoting waste reduction in the workplace by encouraging participation in the Waste It Not Shop.
In 1997, Clean Calgary undertook another new project, a teaching manual based on the Waste it Not approach to reducing through reuse. With the help of several teachers who formed an advisory committee, Kim Spencer wrote a book second to none. This handy resource manual covers four basic key waste streams: glass, metal, paper and plastic.
In the fall of 1999, Clean Calgary introduced the Master Composter/Waste Advisor program. Volunteers receive 40 hours of training to learn about composting, environmental concerns and recycling/waste reduction opportunities. These volunteers then act as mentors in their communities and repay the training with 40 hours of services by working on issues related to waste or composting.
During the same year, Clean Calgary presented "There's No Such Thing As Junk" to over 500 grade 4 students. This lively presentation focuses on waste reduction and practical ways that everyone can make a difference by trying to "rethink, reduce, reuse and recycle". Included is a fun activity and craft with materials from the WINshop.
Since the holiday season yields the most waste, Clean Calgary, in partnership with the Eco-Centre offered a presentation focusing on "Simplifying Christmas". It looked at practical ways to put more meaning into the holiday and offered creative alternatives for gift giving that were often more environmentally friendly. As well, to reduce waste and promote reusing materials on hand, Clean Calgary offered alternative gift wrapping services at a number of craft fairs.
Throughout its twenty-five year history one service has withstood the test of time, namely providing information on everything from recycling locations to practical ideas about leading an environmentally friendly lifestyle. Our reputation for "not passing the buck" has made us well known as a reliable "one call" source of a wide variety of information. If we don't have the answer, we try very hard to get one.