GUELPH POLITICAST #38 - Colin Oaks, Project Biologist for Trout Unlimited Canada

The months of May and June mark that time of year when we tend to spend less time in the house and more time outside. The weather is right in the Goldilocks zone: not too hot and not too cool, it's less cloudy and more sunny, and long walks by, let's say the river, are much more enjoyable. So not coincidentally, May and June also mark the 2Rivers Festival here in the Royal City.

Would You Trust Your Money to This Acronym?

It appears that the Guelph chapter of the Ontario Public Interest Group (OPIRG) is once again facing charges of being too radical a political group on the University of Guelph campus, and should have its funding pulled. Say what? Who could possibly have a problem with a group that's volunteer-driven, helps clean our river on a yearly basis, and raises awareness and promotes education on environmental and social justice issues?

Get in to The River This Weekend

This weekend is the 32nd annual Speed River Clean-Up organized by the Guelph branch of the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG). Brought to you by Wellington Water Watchers, Trout Unlimited and GUFF (Guelph Urban Forest Friends), the Clean-Up, as always, aims to educate people about the importance of Guelph’s waterways, get them involved and in the river to literally take out the trash.

Like in years gone by, everyone is to meet up at the gazebo in Royal City Park (Gordon Street) by 11 am. Bring your gloves, sun gear, water and a pair of either old shoes, boots or hip waders. Then sign-in, join a group and start cleaning up the river. Afterward at around 12:30, everyone’s invited back to McCrae House for some eats and some entertainment. The theme is pot luck, so volunteers are being asked to bring a dish to share, and for each dish contributed, you will be entered in a draw to win two tickets to the Speed River Fundraising Dinner at Borealis Grille, a $120 value. Additionally, volunteers are being asked to bring their own plates and utensils to cut down on waste.

If you’re looking to get even more involved, OPIRG is looking for volunteers to take on specific jobs at the Clean Up. Among the list of jobs needed to be filled are crew leaders, photographers, set-up and take-down volunteers, and people to help out at the potluck. For more information, get in touch with OPIRG at 519-824-2091 or at opirg@uoguelph.ca

To get you in the mood, here are some picture slideshows of two Clean-Ups from the past, 2008 and 2010.

Clean-Up Crew Wants Feedback

It would seem that the annual Speed River Clean-Up isn't drawing the numbers it used to, and the Clean-Ups organizers, the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) is asking for feedback from the community on how to make it more appealing. The story was published in a recent edition of the Guelph Tribune.

“The spark has gone out of it,” said Alison Morrison, Speed River Project co-ordinator. “Our numbers are dwindling, and we’re not even sure of the impact of sending 200 people into the river on a Saturday morning,” said Morrison.

But numbers aren't the sole concern for OPIRG as they're looking to re-energize the 30-year-old event. As Morrison says, the idea of going out into the river and removing the trash, while once being novel, does nothing to address the main issue: the fact that people keep dumping garbage in the river.

So amongst the suggestions already on the table is paternerships with community groups and holding further, informational events throughout the year. But not to worry, says OPIRG, they want to know what you think on the matter too. What are your suggestions for improving the Speed River Clean-Up? OPIRG requests that you post them here.

Regardless, I don't think anyone can deny that the Clean-Up still has a part to play in the community. It's a fun event that raises awareness in a very practical way. Granted, there's still more that needs to be done to keep awareness and action going through the year, but I'd hate to this event disappear, or written off as ineffective. Like the man said, every little bit helps.

You know who I mean