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Here for our Community — Paul Bibeau and Marilyn Ives

August 22, 2022
Here for our community: Matt Reid Every day hundreds of people work behind the scenes to keep Prince Edward County running. We are profiling a few of the people that are ‘here for our community.’   We continue the series by talking with Matt Reid, Foreman of Recreation and Community Facilities   Can you start by giving an overview of your job?   There really isn’t a set day. It could be anything. On any given day there could be something in the parks that needs taking care of, it could be that something breaks and we need to fix it. We keep busy and it stays interesting. On a typical day in the winter, we’re working with ice users and making sure the arenas run. I lend a hand at the Picton arena when they need it but I’m mostly based out of Wellington.   In the spring we take the ice out of the arena. It’s pretty straightforward: we shave the ice down with the ice resurfacer and then we’ve got to put hot water on to remove the vinyl logos. Then we continue shaving it down. When we get down to the paint, we turn the ice plant off to break the seal between the ice and the floor. Then we bring in a tractor with a bucket and start taking the ice out in chunks. It takes anywhere between 4-5 days with a crew of 2-3 staff.   In the summer, there’s more ground to cover. We’re focused on the parks and washrooms and all of that fun stuff. There are 23 parks that we look after, so we’re all over the County, and our team grows with summer students and summer staff. The team that is responsible for the public washrooms are fantastic. I’ve done that shift a couple of times and it’s fantastic that they are able to keep up with it.   How long have you worked with the County? I started in 2008 as an arena attendant. It was a good job opportunity at the time and it stuck with me. I have been in the Foreman role for just over a year now. What do you like most about the job and working for the County? The thing I like most about my job is the staff I work with. It’s a good group and it makes it easy to come to work. There are 12 people on the arena team; that’s between both facilities in Wellington and Picton. I don’t know the right word to describe the team. It’s just that everyone gets along so well. Everybody’s easy going, and it makes it a lot easier to come to work everyday knowing that we get to do our job and have a good time doing it together. I was a little uncomfortable about this interview, because it’s a team effort here. Nobody could make this work without everyone else. I didn’t want this to focus on me, because it really is a team. How has COVID-19 impacted your work? It has made things a little more challenging, but everyone has done a good job with getting the protocols sorted out. We have appreciated everyone’s patience and understanding as we worked through the challenges of the pandemic. The screening, showing proof of vaccination and ID, the guidelines we have to follow and the delays on repairs due to shortages, contractor availability and shipping delays… it’s made things a little more challenging. The public has been really good, more than willing to follow the rules and be patient and understanding. Having the facility empty during lockdowns has been a little bit of a blessing because when we’re closed we get the time to do the really tedious and long jobs that we don’t get a chance to do when we have a full day of ice users and the public coming in and out. There’s been a lot of painting, buffing floors and things like that. We haven’t been sitting waiting for the doors to open. We’ve been doing a lot of things we can’t do with the public coming through the door. What do you enjoy most about the County? I grew up in the County. I like that this is where my family’s from, where my wife’s family is from. Everyone we know is here. It really feels like a community when you grew up here and know everyone. It is easier at work because I see a lot of ice users who either know me or know my family.      

Here for our Community….

Every day hundreds of people work behind the scenes to keep Prince Edward County running. We are profiling a few of the people that are ‘here for our community.’ We continue the series by talking with Paul Bibeau and Marilyn Ives, Landfill Site Attendants. 

 

How long have you worked with the County?

Marilyn: I have worked for The County for almost two years.

Paul: I have worked for The County for seven and a half years.

 

Can you start by giving an overview of your job?

Marilyn: We are both landfill attendants and responsible for tipping for waste. We are here to assist the public when they arrive at the landfill by accepting their fees, showing them which area of the landfill site to go to dispose of their waste, and to ensure that they’re properly recycling. We educate residents on some waste items that can and cannot be recycled. 

Woman in orange shirt smiling at camera with recycling boxes in background
"Proper recycling and waste disposal are an important thing to practice as it will affect the future and generations to come."

What do you like most about working for The County?
Marilyn: I like coming into contact with people. I am a fairly new resident, so talking to residents who come to the landfill regularly helps me get to know others in the community and gives me a sense of belonging.

Paul: I love this job because you meet and greet different people from the area and get to talk to them and learn a little about your fellow community members.

man in orange shirt standing in front of landfill
"I've lived in The County my whole life and enjoy the people and the surroundings of the community I live in."

What do you like most about living in The County?

Marilyn: I think it’s a nice combination of country heart with a big city feel. There are a lot of rural areas but there is a lot of diversity here. We have a great arts and culture scene, as well as festivals, wineries, beaches and there is something for everyone to do.

Paul: I’ve lived in The County my whole life and enjoy the people and the surroundings of the community I live in.

How are you involved with the community outside of work?

Paul: I used to belong to the Picton Recreation Committee, and I have done some volunteer work as I belong to a few local motorcycle clubs and we enjoy giving back to the community.

If there is one thing you want the public to know about the work that you and your colleagues do, what is it?

Marilyn: I want the public to know that what they do at the landfill and how they dispose of waste matters in the big picture in terms of sustainability. Proper recycling and waste disposal are an important thing to practice as it will affect the future and generations to come.

Paul: I would like to encourage people to always check The County’s website for landfill information, such as hours, fees and what items can be disposed of, so that they know what to expect when they arrive. It makes the process of waste disposal much smoother at the landfill.

Read all of the Here for our Community series

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