GO GREEN goes great in Swift Current

While the leaves have begun to change, volunteers from a cross Swift Current decided to GO GREEN on Friday. 

GO GREEN is an annual event where different individuals and groups come together across the city to work on planting fresh foliage and do some landscaping across Swift Currents parks. 

A major part of the ecological campaign is the lunch at Market Square, where many volunteers meet up to eat, refresh, and relax with live music and friends. 

Rri Branconnier-Bye singing on stage. (photo by Hayden Michaels)

Setting up the music, food and venue for everyone are the members of  Stark and Marsh. The Swift Current-based firm not only has its members volunteering, but helping out with handing out food and drinks at the lunch venue, which people could get for a small $5 donation to the Swift Current branch of the Salvation Army. 

Darcy Congdon, director of operations for Stark and Marsh, was pretty happy to spend a day in the sun, working alongside everyone else. 

Darcy Congdon, director of operations for Stark and Marsh. (photo by Hayden Michaels)

"It's another example of our community coming out," said Congdon. "We talk about parks and what Swift Current has and it just exemplifies the city that we have the community and the value people put on green space and the environment." 

Working alongside Stark and Marsh, and helping out at the venue, are the many helpful hands from the Innovation Federal Credit Union. Breaking away from banking for the day to keep the city looking fresh and green in anticipation of the winter is a great change of pace, even for Dan Johnson, the CEO of Innovation Federal Credit Union. 

Dan Johnson, CEO of the Innovation Federal Credit Union. (photo by Hayden Michaels)

"It's our annual collaboration with the City of Swift Current and Stark and Marsh," said Johnson. "We've been doing this since 2015, and it's been one of those days where we get to, as a staff group, go out and make the City of Swift Current an even more beautiful place."

Helping direct all the volunteers across the eight parks that were being fitted with trees, hedges, mulch and more was Martin Cooling, parks superintendent for the City of Swift Current. 

Martin Cooling, parks superintendent for the City of Swift Current. (photo by Hayden Michaels)

"With the Stark and Marsh and other volunteers, we're doing some planting projects on the new [Plewis Automotive Group] playground on the south side, Memorial Park, Elmwood Park, Ashley Park Hall renovations, and just some general cleanup," detailed Cooling. It gives us a chance just to get on top of a lot of projects, even stuff like weeding and fresh plants and fresh mulch."

The day saw everyone working to plant hundreds of trees, do some further work on the surrounding green space at the Plewis Automotive Group Inclusive Park, and even starting the multi-year work that will go into the new hedge at Elmwood Park. 

The City crew that was helping direct the volunteers, enjoying lunch together under the big tent at Market Square. (photo by Hayden Michaels)

"It really brightens up the city, and it's just great for people to be able to volunteer," said Cooling. 

During the lunch, the various groups stepped up to speak to the wonderful nature of GO GREEN, why they participate, and how it benefits the residents of Swift Current. 

Another special edition was a couple of representatives from S3 Group. Jacqueline Hudec was able to help present a cheque on behalf of the agricultural implement manufacturer, with that money going to the Salvation Army. 

Hudec was join by one other person from S3 Group, but they represented the huge impact of everyone back at the office with the donation. (photo by Hayden Michaels)

"[S3 Group] is just happy to be a part of beautifying the city," said Hudec. "We, the volunteers from S3 Group, are glad to be part of such a great initiative."

The cheque totalled $1,000, adding a nice cherry on top of the funds raised through the lunches and other donations. 

Folks interested in helping out at the next GO GREEN event are encouraged to reach out to the City of Swift Current. 

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