Twenty-four local volunteers dedicated their Saturday morning to cleaning up the ditches along the QEII.

The first Saturday of May was the annual Alberta Highways highway cleanup campaign. The undertaking primarily helps charities and nonprofits raise some money by picking up litter along Alberta highways.

Dave Maffitt, board chair for the Volunteer Airdrie Society talked about why they do this highway cleanup year in and year out.

"We try to beautify the Airdrie area and make it appealing. Being able to receive funds from the government helps as well."

Every year, the volunteers try to cover both sides of the QEII from the Balzac Overpass down to the north city limits which is around 15 kilometres. This year they were able to complete about 70 per cent of their route (Balzac Overpass to Veterans Boulevard Overpass) compared to last year only completing about 50 per cent.

"In about three and a half hours, we collected about 110 bags of litter which was very successful. We didn't get the whole route done  because we needed about 40 volunteers"

AirdriePhoto of two volunteers cleaning up one of the ditches alongside the QEII.

According to Maffitt, the provincial government pays $100 per kilometre covered along the highway.

"We were contracted to do 15 kilometres, which is 30 kilometres (combining both sides) in total. If we had completed our whole route, it would have given us $1,500, so, I'm expecting that we'll get about $1,050 this year, which is up from about $800 last year."

The funds they do receive will go towards operations costs for the society. Maffitt finished off by thanking everybody who volunteered their time to help clean up the ditches along one of the busiest highways in Alberta.

"They were a great group of people. We only had two drivers so they were working really hard. All in all, I'm very happy with this year's campaign."

On Saturday, the Youth Volunteer Corps with Volunteer Airdrie is hosting a rain barrel sale fundraiser. The event will take place May 11 in Rocky View County from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. located at #265232 Range Road 14. 

At the end of June, Maffitt will be handing over the reins of the board chair to Daria Skibington-Roffel.

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