Canadian Competent Clean-up Crew hits the streets

The Canadian Competent Clean-up Crew, operating through Sidedoor Youth Centre, has really made a difference to the streets of Yellowknife, Canada, in recent weeks. Its 12 crew members - 11 boys and one girl, who range in age from 14 to 24 and are split into two teams, work six hours a day, five days a week, doing different jobs throughout the city to ensure it's a cleaner and more hygienic place to be - and they're catching up on their education, too.

The programme through which the CCC operates, is for people aged between 14 and 30 who are out of school, looking for a job, homeless or simply want to make a change. "These kids are not only cleaning up town, they're cleaning up their lives," says Sidedoor Youth Centre's Garry Hubert, who explains that the youngsters are doing three hours' cleaning every morning, followed by three hours of schooling at Aurora College in the afternoons, as part of the 16-week Ready to Work North programme, which is geared at integrating young people at risk, into the workforce.

He says that the team members are paid $8.25 an hour, but will receive $14 an hour retroactively upon completion of the 16 weeks of classes and work. "It's not in any way a make-work project. It's a way to integrate these kids back into society," he explains. "This could be a stepping stone for the rest of their lives."

James Bobyn, a member of the cleaning crew is enthusiastic abot the programme, saying: "We talk about life skills, such as jobs, houses, budgeting your money, all that kind of stuff... basically getting you ready to go on your own feet. They were looking for people who were going to try and stay with the crew, work the four-month period. They wanted people who were going to be honest and actually come to work every day."

Speaking of the reactions from people on the street, James says: "Every now and then they'll say, 'Good job,' or 'Good, someone's finally cleaning up the city.' The city needs to be cleaned up; it's dirty-looking."

Another enthusiastic team member is Lloyd Thrasher, who had been volunteering at Sidedoor before hearing about the opportunity.

"Not only is it a good idea, but it will help us," he said. "The first week we went around the downtown area cleaning the alleys, garbage, the park... Then we went down to the dump, and we worked there for a few days, cleaning the whole front end of the dump to make it look more presentable. The last day we worked around City Hall cleaning leaves and stuff."

According to fellow recruit Marc-Andre Normandin, who had been "just hanging around" before joining the cleanup: "It's keeping most of us out of trouble."

According to Garry Hubert, one individual left the programme, but there is already a waiting list of others waiting to join it.

Troy Bowden, a community service outdoor supervisor with the city, had the opportunity to watch the youngsters in action, as they worked with him and his own crew for two weeks.

"They're assisting us in our work - everything from raking up the lawns to doing garbage collection, washing garbage cans, moving deliveries and stuff like that," he said. "They're actually really good workers. From what I can see, I'm thinking that it's going to work for them. They're getting a taste of real life and the work that you have to do, and they're reporting for duty every day."

Funding for the initiative comes from Service Canada and Diavik Diamond Mines, with in-kind donations from both the city and Sidedoor.

Caption: Evan Vandenhouten cleaned up 50 Street last Monday. He says the litter situation there wasn't too bad, as the team had already gone through the area. "It's just about keeping it clean now," he said. - Alix McNaught/NNSL photo

Broadcast courtesy of Northern News Services.

www.nnsl.com/northern-news-services

5th June 2008