Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
Joy and Sean Prockter don't just set aside time to pick up garbage in and around Jasper, it is part of their daily routine.
And the couple's tenacious attendance to helping keep the area clean has not gone unnoticed. They have been nominated for the Individual Award of Distinction, one of Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce's annual awards.
Sean said although he and Joy don't do it for the attention, they're honoured to be recognized.
"We do it for environmental stewardship," he said.
Since they started their business, Jasper Hikes & Tours Inc., in 2018, Joy said they've been doing clean-ups around the park, including the Maligne Canyon Shoreline Clean-Up.
"Of course, we do lots of clean-ups on our own," she said, and added other guides take part in clean-ups as well.
"It's a nice way to get people off the couch," Sean said. "It's perfect timing - spring clean-ups after the snow melts."
He said after this year's lockdown in the spring, it was great to be able to pull in so many people to help.
Joy and Sean said the lockdown presented a good way to look at how soon after a clean-up an area gets dirty again.
"When no one was allowed to use the park, it was a way to restart, to see (what happened when use began again)," Sean said.
"It's unfortunate that trash was appearing soon after things were left. Even during the lockdown, there was trash along the highways."
He said areas became littered with garbage more prolifically this year because of people's fears about touching garbage containers, in connection with COVID-19.
In Maligne Canyon and the Valley of Five Lakes areas, they said, "We'll show up in the morning and the parking lots will be littered."
This earth-loving couple works hard to keep up with the mess.
When they take their dog, Suka, on walks, "we bring gloves, masks, hand sanitizer and a bag," Joy said.
"We've trained...Suka to pick up trash as well," Sean said. "She absolutely loves the game and we only let her pick up cans and bottles.
鈥淚f we see a can tossed in the bushes, it's usually quite difficult to access, so we will extend her lead and she'll bring back the can and drop it in the bucket for us. (She's a) great teammate."
Joy and Sean do the same when they're running their business.
"We're always picking up trash when we're guiding as well," Sean said. "It demonstrates our care of the environment to our guests."
