Residents across Haldimand pitch in for Earth Day

by Haldimand Press Staff

April 30, 2026

Caledonia

CALEDONIA—When 7-year-old dance student Lucy Edl saw a need for some community clean up, she took action. Lucy, a student at Caledonia School of Dance, worked alongside her mom Robyn to organize fellow students for the project. On Earth Day (Wednesday, April 22, 2026), the dancers took turns cleaning up the area around the studio, located behind the fire hall, before heading to class. At the end of the evening, 20 bags of garbage were collected by 60 dancers. See more Earth Day coverage on pages 3 and 13. —Haldimand Press photo by Randy Carter.

Hagersville

  • HAGERSVILLE—Hagersville 150 Committee member Lisa Mattice and Libro Credit Union employee Justine Burke working together to clean up a parking lot. —Haldimand Press photo by Mike Renzella.
  • HAGERSVILLE—Brian Marshall of Morison Insurance ready to clean. —Press photo by Mike Renzella.
  • HAGERSVILLE—Hagersville 150 Committee Co-Chair Nancy Snyder blows dust and debris off the sidewalk. —Press photo by Mike Renzella.
  • HAGERSVILLE—Among the clean up crew was (l-r) Heaslip Ford employee John Cegelnik and Hagersville Lions Chris Huskins and Dent McIntyre. —Submitted photo.
  • HAGERSVILLE—Residents of all ages came together to gather trash so it may be properly disposed of. —Submitted photo.

HAGERSVILLE — The Hagersville District Chamber of Commerce was one of many groups out in force on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 cleaning up their town to mark Earth Day. 

Armed with brooms, leaf blowers, and garbage bags, the volunteers spread out to pick up trash and debris around the Market Square, Sgt. Andrew Harnett Memorial Park, and along some of the town’s busiest streets.  

Organizers were encouraged by the strong turnout, feeling that community spirit is alive and well.

“We had quite a number of volunteers, probably a dozen in total. We had participation from the Chamber, the Hagersville 150 Committee, the Hagersville Lions Club, and some general concerned citizens,” said Chamber President Rob Phillips, noting the Chamber is “committed to carrying this on every year.”

Phillips called the completed work a job well done.

“There’s a significant improvement in the downtown core…. They picked up everything from paper cups, cigarette butts, cleared up the sand that was accumulated around the main corner, removed tire casings from blown tires,” he listed. “It shows pride in our town that we had volunteers from so many various groups.”

Dunnville

DUNNVILLE—Haldimand County celebrated Earth Week with a community tree planting event in Dunnville, where cool, rainy weather did not stop 40 dedicated volunteers from planting over 250 native trees. 

The Saturday, April 25, 2026 volunteers came from the Dunnville, Caledonia, Hagersville, and Townsend Lions; the Junior Optimist Club of Dunnville; the Rotary Club of Dunnville; and the 2nd Dunnville Scouts.

Trees planted included red maple, birch, black cherry, hackberry, Kentucky coffeetree, sycamore, black gum, hoptree, white spruce, red oak, bur oak, and pignut hickory. Located within the Carolinian Forest Zone, one of Canada’s most ecologically diverse landscapes, Haldimand continues to take a proactive, long-term approach to forestry management through tree planting and maintenance across parks, cemeteries, roads, and trails.

As part of this project, the Dunnville Lions and County staff identified areas of low ecological value turf grass around the baseball diamond that could be naturalized into a forest. The tree planting areas will enhance the ecological connection between the forest on the old Dunnville Closed Landfill and Pyle Woodlot. 

The objective of this planting is to increase forest cover and strengthen the many environmental benefits the forest provides for our community, including cleaner air, wildlife habitat, improved biodiversity, carbon storage, and a healthier natural environment. These efforts support the County’s strategic goal of being future-ready through environmental stewardship and responsible environmental management that will help keep Haldimand’s natural spaces healthy, resilient, and enjoyable for years to come.

Residents are reminded that motorized vehicles, including ATVs and dirt bikes, are not permitted at the Dunnville arena, the soccer park, or surrounding County-owned forested properties.

Haldimand County extends its sincere thanks to all volunteers who helped make the event a success.