Stable funding sought for well-received Clean Team, NSIBA says

Photo: Contributed

Stable funding and a possible expansion is being sought for a program which aims to keep city streets clean while providing vulnerable people with work experience.

The Clean Team has operated as a pilot project on the North Shore since October, designed to fill a gap between existing cleaning programs, which focus on city-owned property, and businesses asking for extra support.

According to the North Shore Business Improvement Association, as of Jan. 31, people employed as part of the project have collected nearly 380 bags of garbage — totalling about 3,750 pounds — from neighbourhood streets.

The program, which received some funding through grants and donations, was launched through a partnership between the NSBIA, ASK Wellness, WorkBC, Open Door Group, the Canadian Mental Health Association and the City of Kamloops.

Jeremy Heighton, NSBIA executive director, said in an email to Castanet the Clean Team pilot has been well received by North Shore businesses and the community, showing “tremendous results.”

Heighton said as of Jan. 31, the Clean Team had collected 123 needles, 1,106 foils, 125 pipettes, 42 piles of feces and 523 cardboard boxes. More than 50 shopping carts — an estimated value of $45,600 — were returned to stores.

“The team will be expanding their service offering in the coming weeks to include graffiti removal and interface landscaping [between business and city streets],” he said.

“We are working closely with the province [Open Door Group and ministry staff] to explore options for stable funding on the staffing side. Both the BIA and the city have supported the pilot through donations and grants to test the concept and assess results. I think we all agree it has met and exceeded our expectations.”

Sarah Candido, City of Kamloops external relations liaison, told the community relations and reconciliation committee on Tuesday the pilot is due to end in March, but planning is underway to continue the Clean Team program.

Candido added the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association is also looking to introduce the program downtown.

She told Castanet Kamloops in an email the city has been exploring options for how it can support the Clean Team going forward, noting the program has been successful in creating low-barrier employment opportunities while beautifying the North Shore.

“The city has heard positive feedback from both the North and South Shore downtown corridor businesses asking for the program to be funded on an ongoing basis,” Candido said.

"We look forward to announcing longer term plans once they move through the approval processes at city hall, and in conjunction with all the partners involved."