Professional garbage collection alone isn't how we keep our neighbourhoods clean, and Montreal could use a show of civic pride this spring.
“What is up with some people’s complete disrespect for our public spaces? It doesn’t require a huge amount of effort and discipline to keep our streets, sidewalks, parks and shorelines clean. Yet some of us appear incapable.”
It helps to grow up cleaning your own schools and having being taught personal responsibility from a very young age. I have no doubt there are still elementary kids commuting to other towns alone by train to go to school, as there were when I was living there.
A little anecdotal, but I personally try and go outside every or every other Sunday at minimum to pickup litter around my local trails.
What I find is the only people that say thank you verbally are stereotypical Canadians, or Canadians that seem to be second generation at the least in my eyes.
Everyone else that does not fit this stereotype seems to have a weird look on their face that almost mirrors a look of disgust or hate. Its very confusing TBH. What’s also quite interesting is that when people do stop and have a conversation with me the first question always is, “are you doing community service, or do you work for the city”.
My answer is usually the same, “no, I am just out for a walk enjoying the trail”. There seems to be a stigma that picking up garbage makes you less and not more.
To add, I’m not picking up litter for strangers, I’m picking it up for myself. I enjoy going for a walk on clean trail, and we both know if you don’t do something yourself no one will do it for you.
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It helps to grow up cleaning your own schools and having being taught personal responsibility from a very young age. I have no doubt there are still elementary kids commuting to other towns alone by train to go to school, as there were when I was living there.
A little anecdotal, but I personally try and go outside every or every other Sunday at minimum to pickup litter around my local trails.
What I find is the only people that say thank you verbally are stereotypical Canadians, or Canadians that seem to be second generation at the least in my eyes.
Everyone else that does not fit this stereotype seems to have a weird look on their face that almost mirrors a look of disgust or hate. Its very confusing TBH. What’s also quite interesting is that when people do stop and have a conversation with me the first question always is, “are you doing community service, or do you work for the city”.
My answer is usually the same, “no, I am just out for a walk enjoying the trail”. There seems to be a stigma that picking up garbage makes you less and not more.
To add, I’m not picking up litter for strangers, I’m picking it up for myself. I enjoy going for a walk on clean trail, and we both know if you don’t do something yourself no one will do it for you.
Interesting observation. I’ve done the same myself, at least in urban surroundings. I hope it makes your walk more enjoyable and satisfying.