‘You got to be a leader’: Volunteer organizes cleanup in Regina’s North Central neighbourhood

WATCH: A Regina resident has taken initiative to revitalize Regina’s North Central neighbourhood through cleanups.

A Regina resident has taken initiative to revitalize Regina’s North Central neighbourhood through cleanups.

“I have a lot of ideas I want to present, but I want to do it in a way that the community is involved,” organizer Mark Erickson shared.

At an event on Friday, Erickson invited the public to a community BBQ outside of 5th Convenience Store in an effort to bring people together and take action for a cleaner, safer community.

Leading up to the occasion, Erickson voluntarily picked up garbage and cleaned the alleyways within the area – with help from members in the community.

Now, he is calling others to do the same.

“We’re all in this together, right,” Erickson voiced. “I don’t like seeing the trash, I don’t think anyone else does so I want to pick it up.”

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A resident living in the area, who also helped Erickson, shared his gratitude for the grassroots initiative.

“I think it’s a good idea that he’s doing this for the community. It means a lot to me personally because I live in this area,” shared Samuel Tanner.

“Like everybody else, they seem to be acknowledging this, and it makes me feel good about this whole situation that’s happening right now.”

In support of the community initiative, Regina city Ward 8 Coun. Shanon Zachidniak attended the event.

“I’m impressed by Mark’s commitment. This is community building in its purest form — neighbour to neighbour, person to person,” Zachidniak said in a news release.

“I’m proud to support this effort and grateful to Mark for his leadership and passion.”

While this was the first Community BBQ hosted by Erickson, he plans on organizing more neighborhood cleanups to bring more awareness for the cause.

“All you have to do is show people the way and then they will have hope, you know?” he told CTV News.

“You got to be a leader, and that’s what I’m trying to say, is everyone needs to be a leader.”