Craven Country Jamboree is over and clean up begins

A steady line of trailers continued to flow out of Craven on Monday as more than 20,000 campers packed up after another year of the Country Jamboree.

As the people moved out, the seagulls arrived. They circled overhead while eyeing all the used paper plates with leftover poutine, red solo cups and crushed beer cans left overflowing from big red dumpsters.

“With the seagulls, I would mistake this for a dump,” said Brendon Burnay.

This was his first time at Craven and said the amount of leftover garbage was much worse than he thought it would be. Those who have been returning year after year say it’s the same mess they’re used to.

“We keep it clean but as you see, my neighbour over there, looks like a pig sty,” said Bob Malanowich from Edmonton.

“I didn’t have my own campsite this year,” said Kendi Danbrook. “I just went to other people’s, made a mess there.”

Truckloads of garbage bags could be seen being removed from the campground with several workers and volunteers out in the muddy site with bags in hand, picking up the trash.

It’s a job for the next two weeks for 14-year-old Gentrit Jashari who plans to put the money toward his hockey fund.

RCMP say eight more people were arrested on Sunday. Two for assault while most others were alcohol related. That makes a total of 63 arrests over the course of the festival, with one man getting Tased by police.

ashepherd@rawlco.com
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