At the Regular Meeting of Council on Monday, April 22, Whitecourt Town Council awarded Community Clean Up projects for the 2024 program to the following groups:
- École St. Mary School Grade Six Classes
- U13 Whitecourt Warriors Boys Soccer Team
- U15 Whitecourt Warriors Girls Soccer Team
- U17 Whitecourt Warriors Boys Soccer Team
- U19 Whitecourt Warriors Girls Soccer Team
- U13 Whitecourt Warriors Girls Soccer Team
- U15 Whitecourt Warriors Boys Soccer Team
- U17 Whitecourt Warriors Girls Soccer Team
- U19 Whitecourt Warriors Boys Soccer Team
- Scuba Diving Team for Festival Pond Cleaning
- Patrick’s Anglican Church
- Whitecourt Social Experience
Officials say each group will provide roadside, playground and sports field cleanup services as a way to raise funds for their non-profit group.
Town Chief Accounting Officer and Acting Director of Infrastructure, Peter Smyl says they received many more applications this year than they have in the past.
“It’s great to see the number of applications we received, normally we’re three or four applications [by this time] and then we re-advertise and sometimes we even get them to reapply.”
The initial Request for Decision only recommended awarding projects to groups 1-9, however, Mr. Smyl informed council that there was $8,000 available in funding which would make it possible to award more projects. Deputy Mayor Braden Lanctot supported the idea of dipping into this funding for the SCUBA team, noting that specialized professionals willing to clean Festival Pond is an opportunity the Town should take advantage of; while councilors Tara Baker and Bill McAree voiced support for funding all 12 groups.
“Let’s clean up the Town! Let’s put them all to work.,” says Councilor McAree. “If we have some money let’s get everybody out here. We should support any group that wants to come forward. That’s the way I look at it. We have the money, let’s clean up the Town!”
The motion to fund all 12 groups for Community Clean Up projects was passed unanimously by council.