Mayor Ford leads the way at Toronto's annual Community Cleanup Day

TORONTO, April 20, 2013 /CNW/ - Thousands of residents are joining Mayor Rob Ford today to clean Toronto together as they participate in the third annual Mayor's Community Cleanup event taking place at various locations across the city.

"It's great to have people from all across the city joining forces to clean Toronto together," said Mayor Rob Ford, who is being joined by local residents at his event at Colonel Samuel Smith Park.

Residents are also taking part in hundreds of other cleanup events in their communities at the same time. More than 5,000 people are expected to take part in these cleanup events today while more than 25,000 were registered to participate in the Corporate and School Cleanup Day that took place yesterday.

Community groups, residents and schools will participate in this Toronto tradition to make a difference by cleaning up public areas in their communities such as a neglected laneway, park or one of the city's many ravines.

The Mayor's Community Cleanup Day is part of the City's Clean Toronto Together program, which features a city-wide staff clean up, the Corporate and School Cleanup Day, cleaning up graffiti vandalism and other cleanup-related activities.

For the third year in a row, GLAD Canada is the lead partner of the program. "We couldn't be more thrilled to be part of the Clean Toronto Together Program," said Guido Romagnoli, Business Lead, GLAD Canada. "Today's event just goes to show how something as simple as spending a few minutes pitching in can make the difference in a community. This year, we are proud to provide participants with blue bags to encourage recycling wherever possible."

Again this year, CP24 is the broadcast partner and News Talk 1010 is the new radio partner.  Other returning partners for the event include the Toronto Sun, the Toronto Star, the Home Depot, Tim Hortons and Pizza Pizza. New this year are community programming partners Earth Day Canada and Toronto Park People.

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. Toronto's government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

SOURCE: City of Toronto

Media contact: Steve Johnston, Senior Communications Co-ordinator, 416-392-4391, [email protected]