Green thumbs up for community effort

Posted on October 6, 2025 by Ryan Dahlman

Shaunavon Standard

The GoGreen initiative, an annual project led by Stark & Marsh in partnership with the Town of Shaunavon, has once again brought the community together for a terrific group effort aimed at beautifying the town.

Almost 100 volunteers participated in this year’s project, including three classes from Christ the King and Shaunavon Public schools, as well as Town staff, Stark & Marsh employees, and individual citizens. Throughout the day, volunteers worked on various projects at multiple sites, including the Grand Coteau Centre, Sunnynook Park, Sportsgrounds, Jubilee Campground, Memorial Park, Shaunavon Hospital and Care Centre, and the Town of Shaunavon welcome sign. Their tasks included weeding garden areas, planting trees, raking leaves, painting signs, installing paving stones, and moving dirt during morning and afternoon sessions.

Lisa Schmit, a Town of Shaunavon councillor and local Communities in Bloom committee member, expressed her gratitude to everyone who contributed to the day’s events. She noted that the town has built a strong partnership with Stark & Marsh over the past four years, working together to make a positive impact on the community’s beauty.

“I’d like to thank everyone for coming out and joining us to GoGreen,” added Schmit. “Shaunavon really shines at events like this, people working side by side and together towards a project, and today is a great example of achieving that.”

“With these combined efforts, Shaunavon continues to grow more beautiful, more welcoming and more connected,” she continued. “Every wheelbarrow of dirt, brush stroke of paint, and hour of volunteer time makes a difference.”

The event also featured a taco-in-a-bag lunch at the Veren Wickenheiser Centre, with proceeds benefiting the South West Chronic Disease group. Additionally, coffee was provided by Meeting Grounds, and an assortment of delicious cookies was donated by Laura Nesland. The Canalta Hotel provided beverages for the event, and Pioneer Co-op donated paint to support the initiative.