Buffalo Narrows is one of two new locations of the challenge in 2023. (submitted photo/Christopher Merasty)

By Derek Cornet

giving back

Buffalo Narrows, Prince Albert new additions to yard cleanup challenge for youth

Jul 18, 2023 | 2:23 PM

Men of the North has nearly reached the halfway point in the 65-Yard Challenge.

This marks the four-year the non-profit has hosted the program, which brings together mentors and youth to complete yard work in their local communities. While the first two years only included the Lac La Ronge area, the challenge has since expanded to include Saskatoon in 2022 and then Buffalo Narrows and Prince Albert in 2023.

“The basic yard challenge is going around helping Elders, families with disabilities and single-parent homes amongst the communities,” Men of the North founder Christopher Merasty said.

“That’s our mandate this year. There were a lot of businesses and individuals who used our resources, but we felt as if it wasn’t really what we were looking for. This year, we are solely sticking to a mandate.”

Merasty explained the goal is to have 16 yards completed in each community for a total of 64. The 65^th yard will likely be in Regina when the mentors and youth travel there for a Saskatchewan Roughriders game on Aug. 20 as a reward. The challenge began July 2 and ends Aug. 12.

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When in Regina, the participants will also be given free accommodations for a night or two, as well as take part in activities such as bowling, going to the theatre and swimming. In previous years, those involved were treated to a canoe trip in northern Saskatchewan.

“It is for basic yard service, so mowing, trimming, racking, fertilizing, cleaning up garbage, all that type of stuff,” Merasty said of the program. “We’re not going to be jumping on rooftops and cleaning gutters or chopping down trees and hauling those types of things away.”

Merasty mentioned good progress is being made in Buffalo Narrows, La Ronge and Saskatoon, but it’s been a slow start in Prince Albert. He noted the organization needs to find new mentors in the community as the ones who were in place were called out to work. Those who would like to be a mentor in Prince Albert can reach Men of the North on its 65-Yard Challenge website online here.

Merasty also added youth involved in the program learn life skills, leadership and team building, as well as become more engaged into learning how to access mental health services and supports and find out what is readily available.

As a show of appreciation to mentors involved, they are rewarded with gift cards throughout the summer in addition to being invited on the trip.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno