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Formerly called the Red Deer River Cleanup and Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, these annual spring and fall initiatives are now united under one name. Both the spring and fall River Valley Cleanups draw volunteers from across the city to join together to keep the Red Deer River, tributary creeks, and surrounding green spaces litter-free. Check out the Waskasoo Environmental Education Society website for more details!

To volunteer for either cleanup:

  1. Arrive at the Kerry Wood Nature Centre any time between noon and 1:00 p.m. on the day of the cleanup. No pre-registration required. Suggested to bring/wear:
    • Visible, weather-appropriate clothing
    • Closed-toe walking shoes
    • Hat
    • Water bottle
    • Sunscreen
    • Bug spray
    • Gloves
  2. Sign our waiver form, get assigned a cleanup route, and start picking up litter as soon as you’re ready to go. We provide garbage bags, disposable gloves, first aid kits, and garbage grabbers for those who need them.
  3. Return to the Kerry Wood Nature Centre between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to return your unused supplies, submit your cleanup route map, receive a certificate if you want one, enjoy some light refreshments, and get a raffle ticket.
  4. The prize raffle will begin shortly after 3:00 p.m.!
  5. Go home after the prize raffle with a smile on your face and a warm fuzzy feeling from knowing you did something good today.
Photograph of WaterPortal Board Member Ross Douglas

Ross Douglas

Board Member

Ross has extensive executive experience in Operations, Governance, Information Technology and Strategy at the board and senior management level including Mancal Corporation, Mancal Energy, Highridge Exploration and Atlantis Resources. He has worked in Oil and Gas, Coal, Commercial Real Estate, Portfolio Management, Recreation, Retail and Water and Wastewater Treatment. His experience is also geographically diverse having overseen operations in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Additionally, he has been on the board of companies with operations in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Kazakhstan, and Russia. He has served on numerous Public, Private and Not for Profit Boards across a number of industries.

Ross has been active on several industry Boards and committees including the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and The Schulich School of Engineering Industry Advisory Council at the Schulich School of Engineering.

Photograph of WaterPortal Board Member Brian Mergelas

Brian Mergelas, PhD, ICD.D

Board Member

Brian is a seasoned Cleantech entrepreneur with a proven history of successfully bringing complex water technologies to the market.   With over 25 years of experience, he has led various organizations to achieve significant milestones in the industry. 

Having started as the founding CEO of the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (PPIC) and later taking the helm at the Water Technology Acceleration Project (WaterTAP), Brian’s entrepreneurial spirit has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth within the sector. 

He is an active investor in the cleantech sector and has served on many boards including the Ontario Clean Water Agency. 

Actively engaged in industry associations like AWWA, WEF, IWA, and ASCE, Brian enjoys collaborating with fellow professionals to promote advancements in the field. 

Brian holds an undergraduate degree and a PhD in Physics from Queen’s University, which has provided him with a solid technical foundation.   As a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, he brings valuable insights to corporate governance.