Continuing the Work of Newton’s “Team Tidy”

Earlier this month, Surrey Now-Leader profiled the quiet retirement of Kenneth Green — a man affectionately known as Newton’s “Team Tidy.” For over a decade, Kenneth walked the streets of Surrey’s Newton neighbourhood, picking up litter and building relationships with business owners and community members alike.

In that time, he collected an estimated 73,000 pounds of trash and walked the equivalent of 50,000 kilometres — all as part of an inclusive employment partnership with the Newton BIA and Semiahmoo House Society. His presence wasn’t just functional; it was relational. Kenneth became a trusted part of the neighbourhood fabric, always offering a friendly wave and a steady rhythm of care.

When his retirement became official, the Newton BIA was faced with a new question: how do you continue the work of someone so consistent, so embedded in the community?

Mission Possible Is Stepping In — and Stepping Up

We’re honoured to continue the legacy that Kenneth created. As he enters a well-deserved retirement, Mission Possible is proud to take on this important role, not as a one-person task, but as a team-based initiative grounded in inclusive employment.

Through our Clean Team program, individuals overcoming barriers to employment have the opportunity to step into meaningful work, build confidence, and contribute directly to the community around them. Now, we’re expanding that work into Newton, where the need for consistent, compassionate street-level care remains strong.

This is more than a staffing change. It’s a shift from individual effort to collective impact.

As our Clean Team begins its work in Newton, we carry Kenneth’s legacy with us: care, consistency, and quiet leadership. We’re excited about what’s ahead — and grateful to the Newton BIA for this opportunity to serve.

We invite you to follow along, meet the team, and be part of this new chapter. Together, we can keep our communities clean, connected, and full of possibility.

Read the full article from Surrey Now-Leader to learn more!