[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/graffiticleanup.jpg” caption=”McMaster students, along with representatives from the University, the City, the local community, and Hamilton Police Service, banded together to clean up graffiti throughout the local neighbourhood.”]

McMaster students will kick off the school year by joining other community partners to clean graffiti from the streets–and walls–of Westdale.

Hamilton Police, the HSR, City of Hamilton, McMaster Security, Westdale Village BIA, and the Ainslie Wood/Westdale Community Association of Resident Homeowners Inc. (AWWCA) will also be participating in the event.

“McMaster students are dedicated, contributing and involved members in our community,” said Jessica Fedoruk, director of the Student Community Support Network with the McMaster Students Union (MSU). “Working with our neighbours to clean up our new home is a great way to start the year.”

While many people believe graffiti is simply mischief, if is often associated with hate crimes and can give the impression of a high-crime area. In March, community partners including the AWWCA, City, University, MSU, BIA and Police signed a business plan. One goal of this plan is a reduction in graffiti.

Rob Payne, president of the AWWCA, said, “In the business plan, the AWWCA pledged to organize a graffiti clean-up day. It's great to see everyone come together to make this happen.”

Teams of volunteers will be scouring the neighbourhood from the McMaster campus right through the Westdale business district.

For David Dayler, director of the BIA, another benefit of the clean-up is that it will help prepare Westdale for WestItalia, happening Sept. 9-11. “Westitalia is a fabulous, fun-filled family celebration. Through the tireless work of our summer student, Dmitri Malakhov and Staff Sergeant Scott Rastin who together co-ordinated this event, the community is coming together in this very positive action in order to prepare our community for our festival.”

The clean-up is happening Tuesday, Sept. 6 between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.