Why a P.E.I. woman gave up her desk job to sweep streets

Eight years ago, Donna Dingwellfrom Charlottetowndecided to quither receptionist job on the city's switchboard for a wheelbarrow and three brooms.

Dingwell says her three sons were surprised to say the least.

"To go from working in the office on the switchboard, and coming outside as a street sweeper, my three sons were just like, 'What, you're going to be a city sweeper? Why?'" she said.

"When I explained the benefits and what the job entailed, I was okay with it and they were okay with it."

Donna Dingwell gave up her desk job to be a city sweeper

8 years ago

Duration 1:08

Donna Dingwell gave up her desk job to be a city sweeper

'It's a great job'

Sweeping streets was not a job she dreamed about when she was a little girl.

"Although I do remember getting my first little broom and dustpan from Santa Claus when I was four or five," she said.

Dingwell said the job has meant a bigger salary, but it's also meant getting outside.

She's responsible for sweeping a seven block section in the downtown.

"It's a great job. I meet so many people on a daily basis. I'm outdoors. I just appreciate the fact that on a beautiful day like today in October, I'm out here sweeping the streets. How wonderful is that?"

Compliments make her day

Dingwell's shift is from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m., and she likes the early hours.

What really makes the job satisfying is getting compliments from people passing by people like Petra Huber, a visitor from Bavaria, Germany.

"Oh, it's wonderful. I wish we had people like you, because people [in Bavaria] leave so much litter and it's crazy now. It's a very good job she's doing."

Dingwell was thrilled to hear that.

"Well, it makes your day. People do notice that you take some pride in your work and it's just good to know that people recognize that. "

Told it's the 'worst job in the world'

Not all comments have been positive Dingwell said she's been told, "That's got to be the worst job in the world. That's not something I would do."

She just sweeps those remarks away.

"It's my choice."

Dingwell said all the walking and the lifting is a good workout, and keeps her in shape. She said the hardest part of the job is in spring, when she has to sweep up the sand that was spread on the streets during the winter. It makes pushing the wheelbarrow tough.

Dingwell is one of six full time street sweepers in Charlottetown.

With winter snowstormsjust around the corner, her job doesn't get any easier.

She'll parkher wheelbarrow and brooms and then hop in one of the the city's small sidewalk plows but that's another story.

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS | Potato farmers 'pleasantly surprised' with this year's crop
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS | 'Nothing short of phenomenal': Buddhist monks, nuns help 'scrub the tub' in Montague