The City of Grande Prairie, in cooperation with Aquatera Utilities Inc., and with support from Goodwill Industries of Alberta is hosting this year’s Drop & Swap event October 16-19.

The Drop & Swap event is a fashionably free community initiative promoting sustainability and waste reduction. Participants are invited to either ‘drop’ new or gently used clothing or ‘swap’ and discover new pieces to refresh their wardrobe.

Event Details:

Residents are encouraged to drop off their clean, previously loved clothing at the Ernie Radbourne Pavilion in Muskoseepi Park during the designated drop-off days. The pavilion will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on October 16, 17 and 18 to accept contributions.

The swap portion takes place Saturday, October 19 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. where participants can browse and take home new-to-you clothing and accessories. 

Participation in the swap is open to all, and there is no requirement to have donated items to take part. To further minimize waste, attendees are encouraged to bring their reusable bags.

Any items remaining after the swap will be collected by Goodwill Industries of Alberta and brought to their Grande Prairie facility for resale. Unsold materials will be repurposed into rags, used as stuffing for various products or repurposed as by-products used by the agricultural industry, ensuring that nothing goes to waste.

The 2023 Drop & Swap event was a resounding success with an impressive 13,000 pounds of clothing donated by the community. The majority of these items were swapped and reused by attendees, showcasing the power of community-driven sustainability. In addition, 60 bags estimated at around 1,000 pounds were sent to Goodwill Industries of Alberta for resale and three bags were repurposed, further contributing to waste reduction efforts.

"The Drop & Swap event is a great example of the power of community and partnerships in making a real difference,” said City of Grande Prairie Mayor, Jackie Clayton. "In collaboration with Aquatera Utilities Inc. and Goodwill, we are proud to offer this opportunity to not only reduce landfill waste but also to foster everyday sustainability. We invite everyone to come out to make the event a success and help us surpass last year’s numbers!”

“Aquatera Utilities Inc. is proud to support the Drop & Swap event, as it reflects our dedication to environmental sustainability and community involvement,” said Vaughn Bend, Aquatera’s Chief Executive Officer. “Partnering with the City of Grande Prairie and Goodwill Industries of Alberta, we’re pleased to offer a platform where residents can both reduce waste and rejuvenate their wardrobes. This collaborative effort is a step towards a more sustainable future and fosters eco-friendly practices within our community.”

“For over 60 years, Goodwill has been proud to serve Alberta in helping those with disabilities to find and gain meaningful employment,” said Goodwill Industries of Alberta Director of Brand Integrity and Marketing Doug Roxburgh. “We’re proud to divert over twenty-one million kilograms of pre-loved goods from the landfill annually and we’re proud to partner with Aquatera Utilities Inc. and the City of Grande Prairie to further our commitment to a sustainable future.”

For more information on the Drop & Swap event, please visit cityofgp.com/dropandswap.

Media release provided by City of Grande Prairie.