A back to school clean up event organized by the USSU, Meewasin and the Office of Sustainability.

On the 12th of September, a group of people gathered at the Diefenbaker Centre to take part in a Back to School Clean Up organized by the University of Saskatchewan Office of Sustainability, the Meewasin Valley Authority and the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union (USSU). 

The group walked along the paths and trails in the Meewasin River Valley, where they spent about an hour picking up any litter they could find before returning to the Diefenbaker Centre to gather the garbage together. From there, the Meewasin Valley Authority disposed of the trash. 

The main mission of the Meewasin Valley Authority is to create and maintain a balance between human usage and conservation in the River Valley. They organize numerous volunteer opportunities in the fall, spring and summer to maintain a healthy community as well as a beautiful and thriving environment. This allows people to access the wonderful natural environment that the park provides while still being environmentally conscious. 

The University of Saskatchewan Office of Sustainability is responsible for ensuring that we implement sustainable practices on campus. They have five commitments they are working toward, which are: to leverage our place, model the way, empower action, capitalize on strengths and catalyze social change. Their website contains more information regarding what each of these commitments mean and their efforts on campus to achieve them. 

The Office of Sustainability and the USSU often collaborate when they have ideas for sustainable events, but they also occasionally partner with Meewasin. This is because campus is close to the River Valley, which allows students who are passionate about environmental sustainability to get involved in activities and events that matter to them. 

As someone who participated in this cleanup, I can testify it was a wonderful way to help the environment and gain more volunteering experience. It was also a chance to meet more people who are as passionate about sustainability as I am. We walked in small groups and chatted while we were cleaning up, which allowed us to feel connected with one another. Taking part in this cleanup made me realize how much garbage is around campus and the direct effect humans have on our environment. It also helped me to realize that we can make a huge difference when we step up and take direct action by volunteering to support nature. 

Dana Kwan, who is the Community Engagement Coordinator for the Office of Sustainability and one of the main contributors to planning this event, stated that, “we wanted to foster a sense of community and responsibility for maintaining a sustainable and clean campus environment.” In those areas, they made plenty of progress.

The event was also extremely considerate of people with varying experiences with cleanups or knowledge of the area. They began the event by emphasizing the importance of cleaning up the environment to the volunteers and provided them with the supplies that were needed to participate in a safe, mindful and educational way. Some people came to the cleanup with plenty of experience, while for others, it was their first time participating. So it didn’t matter what experiences people had, everyone was able to participate. Kwan expressed that they decided to organize a cleanup as “it’s pretty accessible for most people, not necessarily physically, but it doesn’t require background skills or knowledge.” 

By being an active participant in events like this one, you gain perspective on the impact of littering. Every piece of garbage remains in the environment without decomposing for a long time, and as such, we have a responsibility to pick it up when we see it and dispose of our trash in designated areas. Additionally, you gain vital knowledge of cleanup processes, wildlife habitats and strategies for sustainable practices within our everyday lives.

As people passed the group while we were cleaning, many thanked us for the work we were doing which shows that cleanups not only have an effect on the environment, but on the surrounding community as a whole. The River Valley is the view for the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital, so keeping the area clean also helps to make the view pleasant and provides hope to these children, as well as their families. By simply cleaning up for an hour, we were able to make a substantial impact on the amount of garbage around the River Valley. You can contribute to that impact by getting involved in activities or participating in sustainable practices in your daily life.
The Office of Sustainability’s Instagram, posts about the upcoming events that they’re planning or working with others on. You can also check https://meewasin.com to learn more about activities and volunteer opportunities that happen around the Meewasin River Valley.