Daybreak Rotary has selected Wilber Saunders as this year’s Honourary Parade Marshal for the Daybreak Rotary Stampede Parade.
Saunders is well-respected in the lakecity for his extended efforts to consistently pick up garbage alongside many of the area’s roads and highways.
In 2016, city council honoured him with special recognition for picking up more than 200 bags of trash around the city. At the time, Saunders said he had been picking up garbage for about five years, but in 2016 caught people’s attention.
When it comes to what’s popular in his litter finds, Saunders said at the time of the presentation it was lots of disposable cups, plastic containers, cigarettes and bottle caps.
“I pick up everything but I leave the cans for the can pickers,” he added.
Parade committee chair man Lorne Doerksen said the committee voted unanimously for Saunders to be honourary parade marshal.
“Every year we take names from the floor and Wilber’s name was put forward,” Doerksen said. “We are really thrilled and proud because he is an unsung hero. I’ve never met him, but I cannot wait to shake his hand in person. I think he is a perfect fit. He may not make the news every day, but he is out there every day picking up trash and doing this for our town.”
Chuckling Doerksen added when Saunders was informed he had been selected his biggest concern was that he would miss the parade for the first time.
“He has never missed one,” Doerksen said.
Parade Committee memberLori Macala said this year’s parade theme is “Come as You Are.”
The parade will take place on Saturday, June 29 at 10 a.m.
Read more: Clean Sweep
news@wltribune.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter