Efforts to clean up the Boyne River and its riverbank have been steady, and people have been out enjoying the beautiful waterway and its surroundings. 

New dock and kayak launch on 4th St SW just south of the elementary school in Carman.

Tracy Enns is a spokesperson with the Boyne River Keepers. She says very often, you will see people fishing by the river, or kayaking. She adds there's also a group of ladies from Carman that have started a Monday night paddle group.

In addition, thanks to a number of local community groups, Redboine Watershed District, corporate sponsors, and a grant from the Carman Area Foundation, they were able to install a dock and kayak launch.

Earlier this year, Enns says the group held a branch and garbage clean-up, and they spent several days planting trees on the riverbank, thanks to a tree donation from Aubin Nurseries in Carman.

"We were able to plant essentially little sticks along the river and in my follow up, I've seen that we probably have about a 90 per cent take rate, That's to work on the riverbank stabilization, so we thank Aubin Nurseries for that. Now we are working on things like the walking bridge naming contest."

Enns says they are currently working on putting up kilometre markers along the riverbank, so you know where you are, or how far you've gone. Next on the list, she says they want to begin fundraising to put up some solar lights.

Looking forward, Enns says the group hopes to build on what took place there last year.

"I know that in 2020, with COVID-19, there was a lot of community people that put in the work to create the first skating path, and then all the local skating rinks that came up. We've already been very encouraged in talking with the Town of Carman in their willingness to get that going this year. So if the restrictions are looser this winter, we will probably be planning some events for this winter, and probably for this summer as well."

One of several footbridges over the Boyne River