"RAGWEED: RIP IT OUT, DON'T BREATHE IT IN!"

Gatineau, July 16, 2012. – Gatineau is organizing a ragweed rip-out blitz on Thursday, July 26, at 7 p.m. at parc Laurent-Groulx, and again on Saturday, July 28, at 10 a.m. at parc Bourgeau. To take part, residents have to sign up online, indicating their choice of date.

Residents, groups and neighbourhood associations can organize their own rip-out blitz. They will receive a free information kit and tools once they have registered online.

Participants have until July 23 to register online for these activities, through www.gatineau.ca. They could win an attendance prize.

Last year, Gatineau ran a pilot project to test a low-impact ecological herbicide that destroys ragweed before it flowers. Given that the initiative was successful, Gatineau will spread the same herbicide in late July in the most heavily affected areas within its territory.

We remind you that in Quebec more than one out of six people is allergic to ragweed pollen, and under the municipal by-law on nuisances, ragweed on a property is a nuisance. The most effective way to avoid the spread of ragweed pollen is to uproot the plant before it flowers, which is around late July.

For additional information, please consult the municipal Web site at www.gatineau.ca or call 3-1-1.

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