A member of Vernon's Clean Team washing a bench in the downtown core (photo courtesy of the City of Vernon)

By Liam Verster

Clean Team

Clean Team tasked with maintaining downtown core well received so far

Jun 24, 2025 | 6:00 AM

A pilot program to ensure Vernon’s downtown core is well maintained is being hailed as an early success.

The City of Vernon launched it’s Clean Team in early June to beautify the downtown core by removing graffiti and stickers; picking up litter; cleaning curbs, sidewalks, bus stops, and street furniture; doing some light landscaping work; and painting railings.

A report from city staff said the two person Clean Team “completed numerous clean focused tasks” and responded to “approximately 25 requests from the public” in the first two weeks of the program.

The work done early in the pilot was reportedly well received by the public and the Downtown Vernon Association (DVA), which was good news to Vernon City Council.

“I have heard through the grapevine, from some businesses and obviously some people, some residents in the area, of the positive impact that that program is having, so kudos to the team for setting that up,” Councillor Kari Gares said at the regular council meeting Monday, June 23.

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Councillor Brian Quiring, who is a member of the DVA, said the organization was also pleased with the early results of the Clean Team’s work.

Those sentiments were also echoed by Councillors Teresa Durning and Brian Guy.

City staff noted the public can make requests for the Clean Team to address a concern by contacting the operations department, but noted the team does patrol the downtown core looking for work.

The Clean Team is running on a two-year pilot, with operations going between June 1 and September 30.