Founded in May 2007, as part of Vancouver’s annual Keep Vancouver Spectacular (KVS) event, the West End Cleanup is a grassroots group of volunteers who are dedicated to keeping clean the most spectacular neighbourhood in Canada’s most spectacular city!

After that first outing – expected to be only a one-time event – a few of us agreed to keep it going every month … and here we are … several years – and countless tons of garbage – later!

Now, we have established affiliations with Gordon Neighbourhood House (GNH) and the West End Business Improvement Association (WEBIA) to combine efforts to make the West End a clean and safe environment in which to live, work and play.

If you would like to join us, please E-Mail info@westendcleanup.com.

We meet most months for regular two-hour cleanups.  Our meeting point is the corner of Comox & Cardero at 09:55 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month (unless that is on a long weekend, in which case we meet on the third Saturday).  We go out for two hours and regroup back at the meeting spot.  All equipment is provided and we go out in all weather (so dress appropriately).

In May of each year, in addition to our usual cleanup, we host a special anniversary event (including a BBQ for volunteers); we meet in front of Gordon Neighbourhood House (Broughton Street between Nelson and Comox Streets).  For next year, 2014, our 7th  Anniversary cleanup will be on the 25th, from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., at which time the BBQ begins.

In June and July, we forego our regular cleanups to participate in:

• West End Car-Free Day on Father’s Day (third Sunday in June – that’s the 16th this year) from noon until 6:00 - our booth will be setup on Denman at Barclay
• West End Cleanup Community Yard Sale on the second Saturday in July (that’s the 13th this year) from 10:00 until 4:00, setup on the grounds of Lord Roberts Elementary School at Comox and Cardero … if you want to sell, it is $12 for a space (E-Mail to see if space is available); coming onto the grounds to browse is free.

If you would rather not go out with our group, or simply want to do a bit more … why not adopt your block?  To do so, please E-Mail info@westendcleanup.com with the details of the block on which you live.  If it is already adopted, we will assign a nearby block (or maybe the adoptee can use a hand).