The volunteer who鈥檚 been spearheading garbage cleanups for years in the Chilliwack River Valley (CRV) said he is officially done.
Ross Aikenhead fired off a letter to Bruce Ralson, the provincial minister of Ministry of Forest, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, to notify him that without funding for dump passes, and provincial co-operation around cleaning up homeless encampments, he decided he can no longer make himself available for cleanups.
RELATED:
鈥滶nough is enough,鈥� Aikenhead said.
Without warning following one the most recent volunteer cleanups just east of Allison Pool in the CRV, he was told the FVRD funding for dump passes - usually covered - would no longer be available.
As a result, Aikenhead sent FVRD officials an up-to-date list of occupied camps and abandoned RVs, along with coordinates for each, and finished by stating: 鈥渁s it currently stands I will no longer be able to help with any cleanups.鈥�
The bulk of his work has been in the back country, way up Chilliwack Lake Road in the CRV.
鈥淚 supply my truck and trailer, my time, fuel, and miscellaneous expenses including maintenance, insurance and expendable items such as gloves and garbage bags at my own expense,鈥� he advised the minister. 鈥淚 am not willing to add any additional costs to my already limited personal income.鈥�
RELATED:
He urged the province to recognize the value of actively protecting the irreplaceable riparian zone and wildlife habitat that鈥檚 at risk.
鈥淭he Chilliwack/Vedder River corridor is a very important and environmentally sensitive area used many people for fishing and many other outdoor activities that needs protecting by your Ministry and staff. Yet anytime I report an issue it gets ignored, and anytime I have the opportunity to discuss issues with your staff I get told there is no funding available to do what they are supposed to be doing,鈥� the volunteer wrote in frustration.
It鈥檚 hard to understand the inaction of various governments.
鈥漌ho does actually have jurisdiction?鈥� he asked. 鈥淲ho should be paying?鈥�
Everything from his understanding points to FLNRO, and the regional district to a degree in that particular area, 鈥渂ut they only have so much say and so much funding.鈥�
鈥淔rom what I understand from the Tamihi bridge west to the Vedder bridge is a no-camping zone on the Chilliwack River under Section 58 I believe. Who is supposed to be enforcing this?鈥�
Since January 2019 Aikenhead has personally removed a back-breaking 24,040 kg (53,000 lbs) of garbage and recyclables from the wilderness areas around Chilliwack.
鈥淲hy do volunteers have to deal with this type of situation that trained professionals should be dealing with?鈥� he asked rhetorically.
RELATED:
Do you have something to add to this story, or a news tip? Email:
jennifer.feinberg@theprogress.com
Like us on and follow us on .
