Leaf Rapids - moving forward in the face of adversity

The community of Leaf Rapids has recently brought in a program to increase the use of cloth grocery bags and reduce the use and pollution by plastic shopping bags.

Each year, for the last few years, the town of Leaf Rapids has had to spend $5000 to clean up plastic garbage bags which blow out of the town dump. After some research into what other communities are doing, they found a community in Europe with a plan. They have adopted the Leaf Rapids variation of this plan to reduce the waste and pollution from plastic shopping bags.

The Leaf Rapids plan provides for a municipal levy of three cents on all plastic shopping bags. At the same time, the town has bought cloth bags and distributed them free to residents.

This program is an example of how Leaf Rapids is leading the way in tackling environmental issues. Years ago when the town was first built, it led the way in planning for a community in the boreal forest. Today, even though the Ruttan Mine closed in 2002, and the community has had to contend with difficult economic times, Leaf Rapids is forging ahead with progressive initiatives like this.

In the photo, Garry Zamzow (mayor of Snow Lake) and I visit with Councillors for Leaf Rapids (George McKenzie, Denis Langwost, Herb Nelson and Gary Trewin), and Town Administrator Bond Ryan. We are holding the town's cloth bags to show support for their efforts.