Lethbridge Shelter clients making a 'clean sweep' of downtown Lethbridge

The Downtown Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ) is proud to be involved in a great program that is having a significant impact on the downtown experience. For years, the BRZ and the City of Lethbridge have struggled with keeping sidewalks, gutters and lanes free of debris. Although the Summer Ambassador Program, which employs high school students, does an excellent job of keeping our streets clean from July through August, the build-up of unsightly garbage during the balance of the year was an ongoing challenge. The Employment Rejuvenation Program (ERP) has changed all of that. The program is a partnership between the Lethbridge Shelter and Resource Centre, the City of Lethbridge (Downtown Redevelopment Steering Committee - DRSC) and the BRZ.

Besides a cleaner downtown, a variety of social benefits are realized as a result of this important program. Shelter clients are paid a minimum wage for the hours they spend cleaning our streets and lanes. The program helps to provide participating clients with the tools necessary to become more employable and to eventually re-enter the workforce. It also provides them with the opportunity to give back to our community.

Everyone is a winner as a result of this program. The community benefits because the downtown is much cleaner. The clients benefit because it has positively impacted their lives in a variety of ways.

Many individuals from the business community have made the point to interact with the ERP members by saying thank-you and offering coffee on cold winter mornings. Others, such as Les from LOGOS Embroidery have supplied hoodies to the ERP team, to go along with coveralls that were recently provided by the BRZ.

Here are a few comments that have been received in response to the program;

"It was a delight coming to work each day during the summer season with the streets clean for the first-time since I have been working in the downtown. My customers also commented on the lack of garbage swirling around in the winds. Thanks very much for cleaning up the downtown core ... it is very much appreciated."

"They are doing such an excellent job, that I wanted to say 'thank-you' to the City of Lethbridge for hiring them and to the men and women who are getting up that early and doing such a good job. I hope that everyone who comes across them will give them a wave and tell them 'thanks' for their hard work. It is a real pleasure now to walk through the downtown."

"As a citizen born and raised in Lethbridge, may I extend a heartfelt thank-you to all the wonderful workers who clean our downtown streets. You are indeed a very special group of workers who do a very important service in this community. Our downtown streets have never looked better or cleaner. Please know that you are so very much appreciated!"