There are just a few more days for Weyburn residents to help ensure our city can keep its possession of the Golden Garbage Can, with a big day coming up on Monday.
The friendly competition between Weyburn and Estevan dates back nearly 70 years, and the last time it was held, Weyburn won by a narrow margin, 31 to 29.
Weyburn City Councillor Kellie Sidloski will be one of the impartial judges on Monday, June 9th, to help determine the winner of the coveted prize, which goes along with the bragging rights of being southeast Saskatchewan’s best-kept city.
"We'll spend a little bit of time here in Weyburn, we'll go down to Estevan and there'll be five judges total," she shared. "We've got myself, Councillor Walliser from Estevan, a representative from the Weyburn Horticultural Society, a representative from the Estevan Gardening Club, and just confirming the fifth."
"I know Councillor Walliser is just as passionate about her community as I am ours, so I can't wait to show off some of our the spots we have and what we do a little different than Estevan. And then maybe even see what they do on their side and what we can take from there."
"The five of us will head down, we'll judge the one community, then come and judge the other community, and then we'll declare a winner."
The cities will be scored on a shared rubric that highlights cleanliness, visual appeal, and civic pride.
"We put together a new little judging rubric. It'll total out of 55 points, and we're just going to hit local spots from community gateways, parks, and trails, school properties, fairgrounds, downtown, that sort of thing. So we'll just make our way through the communities. We are hoping it's a good way to showcase some of the best parts of each community to the other and keep it friendly and keep it really fun."
Sidloski said the free landfill coupon from the City as well as Wey-Clean Week have helped Weyburn get started on taking pride in their spaces, but she encourages anyone who has time this weekend to get those final touches done around their properties.
She explained why the competition has resumed after 15 years.
"We thought it would be a fun way to build a close relationship with Estevan, and just a nice way to to highlight the community, raise awareness about it, build some community pride, and hopefully each year we keep this tradition going and it just builds year after year from there.
In a press release, the City of Weyburn stated, 'The gloves are off and garbage bags are out'. The release also shared the sentiments of Estevan City Councillor, Kirsten Walliser.
"Not only can we love local and support our own community, but The Golden Garbage Can Competition also showcases all the amenities available in both Estevan and Weyburn. By celebrating our sister community and spending our tourism dollars there—and their reciprocation in Estevan, all of Southeast Saskatchewan is strengthened."
The winner will be announced later that week and receive the Golden Garbage Can trophy.