James Skwarok is flushed with excitement.
After more than a decade of doning the poop-shaped costume which has become known as Mr. Floatie, Skwarok is getting set to retire.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 just grateful to be a part of a large movement of people who have been pushing really hard for treatment. We came from behind but weB次元官网网址檝e made a difference,B次元官网网址� Skwarok said, adding while heB次元官网网址檚 become attached to the costume, his wife is excited to see it go as it has lived in the coupleB次元官网网址檚 closet for the past 13 years.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a long road and IB次元官网网址檓 just happy to let go of it B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檝e made my mark on this town. ItB次元官网网址檚 time for me to be relieved of my duties.B次元官网网址�
Skwarok was originally part of a group called People Opposed to Outfall Pollution, who were looking to capture the publicB次元官网网址檚 attention about VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 practice of releasing sewage into the strait of Juan de Fuca.
Skwarok had recently seen an episode of South Park, which featured Mr. Hanky, the Christmas poo, when the idea came to him B次元官网网址� How do you ignore a dancing, walking, talking piece of poop?
Running with the idea, he had a friend build the 13-pound costume B次元官网网址� and Mr. Floatie was born. Since then, the mascot has become a popular advocate on both sides of the border and calling on Victoria to properly treat sewage thatB次元官网网址檚 pumped into the ocean.
The practice sparked outrage in neighbouring communities. For the past decade, residents and advocates mainly from Seattle have threatened to boycott Victoria until the region steps up and begins to treat the sewage.
In 2012, the federal government passed a law requiring cities such as Victoria to provide secondary sewage treatment by 2020. Countless debates and consultations later, shovels now are in the ground to build the regionB次元官网网址檚 $765-million wastewater treatment plant at McLoughlin Point.
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps, who is also the chair of the Core Area Liquid Waste Management committee, said Mr. Floatie helped raised awareness of the issue.
B次元官网网址淲hen we can bring joy and fun to the problems weB次元官网网址檙e trying to solve, it makes solving them a little bit better,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 confident before December 2020, we will have an operational tertiary treatment plant in the region. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no turning back now.B次元官网网址�
On Friday, Mr. Floatie, Helps and Tourism Victoria CEO and president Paul Nursey travelled to Seattle for Mr. FloatieB次元官网网址檚 retirement party hosted by Canadian Consul General James Hill.
