Calgary Culture Episode 4 - Matthew Edwards

16,000 Pounds of Garbage. 70+ Communities. One Man on a Mission.

At Wandering YYC, we love shining a spotlight on the people who make Calgary better — the ones out there doing the work, rain or shine, to make this city a cleaner, more connected place to call home.

Enter Matthew Edwards.

For the past two years, Matthew has been on a mission to clean up Calgary — and we mean really clean it up. What started as a personal journey during his recovery from alcoholism has transformed into something much bigger. With a garbage picker in one hand and a vision in the other, Matthew has cleaned up over 16,000 pounds of litter across more than 70 Calgary communities.

Let that sink in for a second. Sixteen. Thousand. Pounds.

What’s even more incredible is that this wasn’t part of a city initiative or organization. It started with Matthew, alone, sharing his journey on social media to stay accountable and keep his mindset positive. Through every video and post, his message was clear: we all have the power to do something — and every bit of effort counts.

And the community noticed.

Support from Calgarians started rolling in, from donated gloves and garbage bags to messages of encouragement and even volunteers who wanted to join him. His movement has inspired others to look at their neighbourhoods a little differently — and to ask what they can do to help.

Want to get involved?

Matthew recommends downloading the Calgary 311 app — a simple way to make a service request to the city. Whether it’s for litter pickup, graffiti, or maintenance, submitting a request helps keep the momentum going. The more requests the city receives, the more action they'll take. It’s that simple.

Matthew’s story is proof that one person can make a difference — and when the community comes together, even more so.

So next time you’re out for a walk and see some litter, channel your inner Matthew. Pick it up. Talk about it. Share it. Change starts small — and you never know who you might inspire.