Ladybug clean team working to tidy up downtown Calgary alleys, make them safer

The 'Ladybug' clean-up team is changing the way downtown alleyways look and feel, reducing fires, garbage and safety risks behind businesses.

If you notice Calgary’s downtown alleys looking cleanlier and safer, it’s likely because of the Calgary Downtown Association’s (CDA) “ladybug” clean team.

The bright red, blue and orange micro-trucks, known as “ladybugs,” are used to clear needles, cardboard, garbage and combustible materials from alleys before they become fire risks or attract crime and social disorder.

Andrew Doudican, operations manager with the CDA, says the project began in July after his team “noticed an opportunity.”

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He said there were “a lot of dumpster fires” and “issues in social inequity in the back alleys,” describing dumpsters as “congregation points.”

“Our solution was these [vehicles],” Doudican said. “So, we got rid of the dumpsters in the alleyways and now we do on-demand garbage service for 0the businesses in the back alley.”

He says the improvements were noticeable right away, adding that the association’s internal statistics show no calls for service from the targeted alleyways in July and August — something that hasn’t happened in the past six years.

Ladybug clean team supervisor Devin Sorensen says alleys have become safer since the project began.

“I remember before this, there were seven fires I stumbled upon,” he said. “I’d have to sprint to the front of businesses to tell them that their bin was on fire before running back with fire extinguishers... but that’s been over for months now.”

Sorensen says Calgary’s most vulnerable don’t seem to gather near dumpsters as frequently as they used to.

While graffiti remains, Sorensen says the change has been promising.

“It’s safer for all of us,” he said.

Alex Shackleton, head chef at Bank & Baron, says he hopes to see the project grow.

The pub backs onto one of the impacted alleyways along Stephen Avenue.

“I want to see this expand out a little bit more because It’s been a phenomenal success,” he said. “We don’t have any issues with broken glass or needles, or any paraphernalia lying around. The team’s been taking care of everything phenomenally.”

Police say Ladybug program supports safety goals

The Ladybug program is operating alongside an intensified police effort addressing escalating social disorder, street violence and repeat calls for service in the city’s commercial core.

Earlier this month, the Calgary Police Service (CPS) launched a large-scale blitz involving bylaw officers, transit safety teams and social-service partners.

The one-day push targeted the Beltline, Chinatown, Downtown Commercial Core, East Village, West End and Eau Claire.

The blitz followed an earlier initiative that placed 50 officers in downtown hotspots. That effort led to thousands of calls for service, warrant executions, social-service referrals and more than 370 criminal charges.

“We will continue to do this going forward,” said police chief Katie McLellan.

“This is not us just showing up and walking away and not coming back for months and months – this is the beginning of what you will see to ensure people feel safe coming to this downtown core.”

In a statement to CTV News, CPS said it supports several programs led by community partners – including the Calgary Downtown Association’s ladybug cleanup team.

“Our efforts towards ensuring downtown safety are ongoing and include proactive enforcement, community engagement and responses to calls for service,” the statement read.

“We take a balanced approach by connecting individuals with compassionate supports while enforcing laws and bylaws where necessary.”

CPS also highlighted its dedicated downtown units, including the Community Engagement Response Team, the Downtown Street Engagement Team and community resource officers who work closely with patrol members to identify and address hot spots for crime and disorder.

Police say violence in the city centre has reached a six-year high, driven largely by targeted assaults and street robberies.

Police statistics show public-generated disorder calls are 19 per cent higher downtown compared to the rest of the city, which saw a nine per cent decline.

Unwanted guests, disturbances, indecent acts and drug-related calls now account for 75 per cent of disorder reports — all at six-year highs.

Cleanup helps safety but doesn’t replace housing

Be The Change YYC, one of Calgary’s most active outreach groups, says alley beautification and hazard removal has made certain areas noticeably safer, but warns that cleanliness alone won’t solve the root issues.

Operations director Karen McPherson told CTV News that cleanup programs and housing solutions must work in tandem.

“We need policy. We need tangible housing to be developed – housing across the spectrum, including supportive housing for people who are unhoused,” she said.

Outreach team members with Be The Change YYC go out four times per week, delivering essential items like water, first-aid kits, hygiene kits, food and warm clothing.

“Building those relationships with people is of the utmost importance,” McPherson said. “We build a relationship of trust. People recognize our wagons when we’re doing outreach, and we bring things to people’s needs.”

McPherson notes that relationship-building like this also aids in making connections to services more effective.

“At least 20 per cent of the interactions that we have, we connect people to a resource that they weren’t aware of before,” she said.

“Organizations like ours can do outreach and resource referrals, much less expensive than having fully salaried, benefited police members going out to connect people with resources.”

She added that while the city’s downtown cleanup program improves conditions, it does not reduce the overall number of people who need help.

“Without housing, we’re just kind of moving things around,” she said.

“It’s great that the alleys look better, but we still have a number of people – including more people than we had last year – that need a home. Creating the political will to solve the problem, I think, is the most important aspect of it,” she said.