Fall Cleanup

Summer has had its fun, and now it’s left us a few souvenirs we’d rather not keep. The Fall Community Cleanup is your chance to grab some fresh air, do a good deed, and help Riverside South look sharp before the colder months settle in.

Pick up a cleanup kit from the RSCA tent at the Rideauview Community Centre (4310 Shoreline Drive) during the event window, then head off to tackle a nearby spot that could use a little love. RSCA volunteers will be on hand to help you choose a location and make sure no one is accidentally competing for the same rogue candy wrapper.

High school students can earn community involvement hours while they’re at it. Just bring your volunteer hour form, and an RSCA volunteer will sign it once your clean-up is done.

A small effort, a big impact, and a noticeably nicer place to live!

*Rain date Sept 20

Some basic safety rules include:

• Never touch a needle with your hands. Follow safe pickup procedures, or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) for assistance.
• Wear gloves and appropriate footwear.
• Wear pants and long-sleeved shirts.
• If cleaning near a roadway, wear a safety vest and clean only the non-travelled portion of a roadway.
• Do not lift heavy objects.
• Supervise children in their cleanup efforts and emphasize that safety comes first.
• There must be one adult present for every six children less than 12 years of age and you must obtain consent from the legal guardian of those participants.
• Children must never touch items like glass, broken wood, metal, needles, or household hazardous waste. It’s a good idea to double up your garbage bags for transporting these items.
• Be aware of your surroundings and the potential hazards (i.e. poison ivy, wild parsnip, streams and branches) and remember to put on protective eyewear as necessary.
• The blacklegged tick that carries the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease(link is external) is present in the Ottawa area, across Eastern Ontario, and the Outaouais region of Quebec.