In the heart of Plateau Mont-Royal, where summer heat reflects off colorful row houses, Marianne Dubois pushes her recycling cart along Rue Saint-Denis. Known affectionately as “The Trashy Lady” by locals, the 63-year-old retired schoolteacher has become something of a neighborhood icon over the past six months.
“It started with just picking up litter on my morning walks,” Marianne tells me as she carefully separates a plastic bottle from a nearby trash bin. “Then I thought, why not make this mean something more?”
What began as a personal commitment to neighborhood cleanliness has blossomed into one of Montreal’s most heartwarming grassroots initiatives. Marianne now collects recyclables across five neighborhoods, converting the refunds into donations for the Refuge Pour Chats de Montréal, a local no-kill animal shelter struggling with overcrowding.
“Last month we raised just over $1,200,” she says proudly. “Every nickle matters when you’re talking about feeding 300 animals waiting for homes.”
The initiative has struck a chord with Montrealers. On weekends, Marianne’s solo mission transforms into community events drawing dozens of volunteers. Students from McGill University have formed a regular contingent, establishing collection points across campus.
“We see what Marianne is doing as the perfect intersection of environmental and animal welfare activism,” explains Sophie Chen, president of McGill’s Environmental Society. “She’s showing how simple actions can address multiple problems at once.”
According to Recyc-Québec, the provincial recycling agency, only about 65% of recyclable containers actually make it into proper recycling streams. Marianne’s initiative not only diverts materials from landfills but puts the refund money to immediate community use.
Jean-Philippe Martineau, director of Refuge Pour Chats de Montréal, says the timing couldn’t be better. “Summer always brings a surge in abandoned animals. Marianne’s donations have helped us expand our emergency medical fund for the most vulnerable cases.”
The shelter recently used funds from the recycling initiative to save a severely injured tabby cat found near Parc La Fontaine. Now named “Bouteille” (Bottle), the recovering feline has become the unofficial mascot of the cleanup campaign.
“People connect with stories,” Marianne explains. “When volunteers see exactly how their work translates into care for animals like Bouteille, it creates a powerful motivation.”
Local businesses have taken notice. Café Olimpico and several other Mile End establishments now save their recyclables specifically for Marianne’s Saturday collection routes. Saint-Henri brewery Messorem Bracitorium donates all bottle returns from their tasting room operations.
“We’re producing a lot of empties,” says brewer Thomas Schweitzer. “Knowing they’re helping local animals while reducing waste makes perfect sense for us and our customers.”
The initiative hasn’t been without challenges. Marianne initially faced skepticism from some residents concerned about her collecting from public bins. The borough of Plateau Mont-Royal solved this by providing her with a special permit and distinctive uniform vest that identifies her official community role.
“Now people wave and sometimes even applaud,” she laughs. “My neighbors used to think I was just the crazy lady digging through recycling. Now they save their bottles for me.”
Montréal Mayor Valérie Plante recently highlighted the program during a council meeting on community environmental initiatives. “This is exactly the kind of citizen-led action that makes our city special,” she noted. “It shows how environmental responsibility and community care can work together.”
The success has inspired similar efforts in Verdun and NDG, where residents have adapted Marianne’s model to support other local causes.
Climate scientist Dr. Émilie Fortin from Université de Montréal points out that these hyperlocal initiatives carry significance beyond their immediate impact. “When communities see tangible results from environmental actions, it builds momentum for larger-scale changes in behavior and policy.”
As summer tourists fill Old Montreal streets, some are joining impromptu cleanup walks that Marianne organizes through social media. “Visitors love participating in something authentically local,” she explains. “They learn about our recycling system, our animal welfare challenges, and they get to experience the real Montreal.”
For Marianne, the growing attention remains secondary to the daily work. I join her for the final stretch of her morning route, watching as she carefully sorts materials with gloved hands, greeting neighbors in both French and English.
“The animals can’t wait for big policy changes or perfect systems,” she tells me, gently placing a rescued cat toy into her personal bag to clean and donate. “They need help today, and our streets need care today. So we do what we can, where we are, with what we have.”
To join The Trashy Lady’s cleanup efforts or learn more about the Refuge Pour Chats de Montréal, residents can contact their borough office or visit the shelter’s website.
As Montreal continues facing both waste management challenges and animal welfare concerns, Marianne Dubois proves that sometimes the most effective solutions come from ordinary citizens who simply refuse to walk past problems without taking action.
