With the early arrival of spring, the trash hidden under the snow was revealed earlier than usual, sparking a wave of indignation about the dirtiness of Montreal, among other things. For those behind the municipal scenes who are accustomed to spring rites, this outcry was predictable, although exaggerated.
In principle, the major cleaning operation begins on 1er April, as the signs on our streets clearly announce. The arrival of the mechanical broom traditionally signals the imminent return of sunny days. However, in a context where climate change is disrupting our seasonal benchmarks, it is obvious that this year again, we were taken by surprise.
In the seasonal ballet of cleaning, contracts with snow removal companies traditionally provide for a transformation of their sidewalk equipment in April, thus making it possible to move from snow removal to cleaning using suitable hydraulic tools. This year, the transition comes up against the reality of contracts which end with the month of March, leaving the City helpless in the face of the impossibility in such a short term of moving on to spring cleaning.
Moreover, I learned one day, during a discussion with a public works director, that the last snow removal is often used to clean the streets and sidewalks to remove the waste accumulated during the winter. This year, there was no last snow removal. As a result, our brave snow removers were unable to turn into conjurers.
The echo of complaints resounds every spring. As soon as the waste hidden under the snow begins to emerge, certain cities are accused of being inefficient or, worse, of negligence. But attributing this sad spectacle to municipal bankruptcy is simplistic, even unfair. What we are observing is rather the result of a combination of climatic circumstances which prefigure a new normal within which our habits will invariably be disrupted.
The source of the problem transcends the simple question of maintenance by municipal services. The waste littering our streets when it thaws does not appear there by magic. There are many people who are behind it. Reducing this spring reality to a simple cleaning problem fails to consider the multitude of underlying factors that led us here.
Let’s put aside the acts of carelessness where waste is left on the ground and the unforeseen events of winter operations which aggravate the problem. For example, garbage placed prematurely at the edge of sidewalks and swallowed up by storms may end up bursting during clearance operations. The debris then scatters, condemned to sleep on the ground for the rest of the winter.
This makes me think of this true anecdote involving… a toilet hidden under the snow. It severely damaged sidewalk equipment and the poor back of its operator when he collided with it. Mishaps of this kind, typical of Quebec, clearly illustrate the ordinary nature of those who work to make our daily lives more pleasant.
So, in our individual and collective efforts to make the work of those who care for our cities easier, what exactly are we doing? Not much, you have to admit. Some will retort: “But I pay taxes! » This phrase, frequently invoked to express dissatisfaction with the work of municipal services, reveals often strong positions. The idea that one can define oneself primarily as a “tax payer” rather than as a citizen is very revealing.
If certain cities appear more neglected with the arrival of spring, it is not necessarily the fault of elected officials or municipal employees, quite the contrary. It is rather the result of behaviors, voluntary or not, of certain individuals throughout the winter. Is it through negligence, casualness, a lack of civic-mindedness, or even a lack of pride in one’s community? The answer is probably a mixture of all of these.
Fortunately, in every corner of our cities, people choose to make meaningful gestures to enhance their beauty. Whether it is by sweeping the sidewalk in front of their home or business, or by picking up trash left carelessly, these actions count. These engaged citizens who beautify their storefronts and tree patches with flowers, perennial plants or even vegetables also contribute to this urban metamorphosis.
Other people get involved in community initiatives such as green alleys, bank cleaning days and many other voluntary actions. The love and pride we have for our city are not only the responsibilities of elected officials or municipal workers; they emerge above all from the commitment and attention of citizens themselves. After all, the city belongs to us, to us who live in it and shape it daily. Each gesture, no matter how modest, contributes to an inspiring collective momentum.
Pride in our city begins with a respect and love for our immediate surroundings, cultivated one small gesture at a time. I am convinced that these individual contributions can radically transform the appearance of our city when spring arrives, to the delight of everyone, including tax payers!