庭院之宝还是后院垃圾？
One neighbour’s trash is another neighbour’s treasure
来源: 大中报 南茜(Nancy Jin)
保持物业整洁是一种基本礼仪，也是居民应该履行的公民責任。干净整洁的邻里环境不仅可以提升社区形象，同时也是加拿大人引以为傲的优良传承。
Maintaining tidy properties are a common courtesy and residents’ civic responsibilities. A clean and tidy neighbourhood not only improves the community for everyone, but is also a proud traditional heritage of Canadians.
但是随着春季园艺季节来临，肮脏不堪的草坪庭院常常会成为邻居间投诉的对象。杂乱的物业环境会让周围邻居感到不快，有的会选择向市府投诉，有的则会直接找业主算账。
As spring gardening season kicks in, dirty lawn yards have frequently become targets of neighbours’ complaints. Clutter around the property could offend your neighbours, who may choose to file a complaint with the city or lash out directly at the property owner.
最近发生在Cabbagetown的一起事件就引发诸多关注，此事缘于当地一位居民致信其邻居，要求对方清理堆放在前院草坪上的篮球网和旧圣诞灯饰等杂物。
In a recent incident in Cabbagetown that has gone viral, a resident wrote a letter to his neighbour, requesting him to cleanup general clutter in his front lawn – including a basket ball net and used Christmas lights.
信中写道：“圣诞灯饰或许可以捐给Goodwill，单车请放到后院，杂物请清理干净。”
“The Christmas lights perhaps to Goodwill, the bicycles stored at the rear, and the general clutter cleaned up.
信中还称：“如果你能将物业环境整理并将其恢复到19世纪时的清洁水平，本人将不胜感激。”
“It would be appreciated if your home could look a little more like it did in the 1800s,” the resident wrote.
类似抱怨并不罕见，我也曾听到和我的一位老年邻居对环境清洁有所不满的抱怨，某些租赁其隔壁物业的一些中国留学生的行为举止令她恼火不已。
I’ve heard similar complaints from a senior resident of my neighborhood who peeved about the behavior of some Chinese students renting a home next door.
她指着几张在其精心维护的花园中飘散的某些烂纸称：“他们的垃圾不停地吹到我的草坪之上，我只得跟着他们后头捡。”
“Their garbage gets blown into my lawn all the time, and I have to pick it up,” she said, pointing to several pieces of tissue paper scattered on her well-maintained garden.
她告诉我说，她已经在这个社区居住了40多年，此前街道一直非常整洁，但自从几年前搬来一些中国留学生后情况就发生了变化。
She said that she has been living in this neighborhood for over 40 years, and the street had been always clean and tidy until the Chinese students moved in a few years ago.
我对她的不幸遭遇深表同情。根据多伦多市府的信息，有关物业庭院脏乱的投诉已屡见不鲜，并且多年来一直呈现上升趋势。
I can sympathize with her frustrations. According to information from the city of Toronto, dirty yard complaints are very common and have been on the rise over the years.
有许多相关投诉涉及到华裔社区成员并不出人意料。毫无疑问，加拿大19世纪的优良传承对于移民来说即遥远又陌生。当今中国的卫生标准远远低于西方国家，许多新移民将一些坏习惯也带到了加拿大。
And it isn’t a surprise that many of the complaints involve members in the Chinese community. Undoubtedly, the traditional heritage of 19th century Canada is alien for us immigrants. Today’s China has much lower hygienic standards than the West and recent immigrants have carried on some bad habits to Canada.
《大中报》最近就曾报道过刘先生的故事，市府承包商不仅修剪了其后院过长的杂草，还清理了庭院垃圾。但是市府随后开出的总额高达$1300元的账单却让刘先生大为光火。他因此提出投诉，指控市政执法人员擅自闯入其后院，并在未经其许可的情况下搬走其“贵重”物品的行为属于违法。
Chinese News recently reported a story of Mr. Liu whose overgrown grass was cut and backyard clutter removed by city contractors. But Liu was furious after receiving $1300 bill from the city. He complained that city bylaw officers broke the law by trespassing into his backyard and having his “valuable” goods removed without his permission.
但是《大中报》在调查后发现，如果业主违反市府附例的要求，市政执法人员有权清除庭院垃圾。
But Chinese News investigation found that bylaw officers have the enforcement power to remove backyard waste if the property owner fails to comply with the by-law order.
但是刘先生仍心存不甘。他声称被清理掉的从屋顶瓦片到纱窗，乃至庭院椅等垃圾都属贵重物品。
But Liu has remained defiant. He claimed that the backyard “waste” removed was valuable– ranging from roof shingles to window screens and even patio chairs.
据刘先生估计，这些“贵重物品”的总价值在$1万元左右。但是在像Cabbagetowner居民一样的住户看来，这些物品还有更好的去处——要么捐给Goodwill要么直接扔进垃圾堆。
Liu estimated that the total price of these “valuable goods” is around $10,000, but residents like the Cabbagetowner thinks there’s a much better home for them – either Goodwill or garbage dumps.
这种杂乱不堪的庭院无疑也会让我那位年迈的老邻居更佳不满，她认为维持清洁优美的社区环境是每个住户的责任，移民自然也不例外。
And this backyard clutter would have certainly fanned the flames of my disgruntled neighbour, who believes that a clean, beautiful community is the responsibility of every neighbour – including immigrants.
她称：“加拿大是一个美丽的国度，如果人们选择在这个国家生活，就应该保持自家物业整洁并维护社区环境。每个人都必须为此负起责任。”
“Canada is a beautiful country. If people choose to live in this country, keep your property tidy and respect your community. Everyone has to do their part,” she said.
编注：本文曾在2015年5月《大中报》上发表。
Note: The story was published in Chinese News in May, 2015.
Maintaining tidy properties are a common courtesy and residents’ civic responsibilities. A clean and tidy neighbourhood not only improves the community for everyone, but is also a proud traditional heritage of Canadians.
但是随着春季园艺季节来临，肮脏不堪的草坪庭院常常会成为邻居间投诉的对象。杂乱的物业环境会让周围邻居感到不快，有的会选择向市府投诉，有的则会直接找业主算账。
As spring gardening season kicks in, dirty lawn yards have frequently become targets of neighbours’ complaints. Clutter around the property could offend your neighbours, who may choose to file a complaint with the city or lash out directly at the property owner.
最近发生在Cabbagetown的一起事件就引发诸多关注，此事缘于当地一位居民致信其邻居，要求对方清理堆放在前院草坪上的篮球网和旧圣诞灯饰等杂物。
In a recent incident in Cabbagetown that has gone viral, a resident wrote a letter to his neighbour, requesting him to cleanup general clutter in his front lawn – including a basket ball net and used Christmas lights.
信中写道：“圣诞灯饰或许可以捐给Goodwill，单车请放到后院，杂物请清理干净。”
“The Christmas lights perhaps to Goodwill, the bicycles stored at the rear, and the general clutter cleaned up.
信中还称：“如果你能将物业环境整理并将其恢复到19世纪时的清洁水平，本人将不胜感激。”
“It would be appreciated if your home could look a little more like it did in the 1800s,” the resident wrote.
类似抱怨并不罕见，我也曾听到和我的一位老年邻居对环境清洁有所不满的抱怨，某些租赁其隔壁物业的一些中国留学生的行为举止令她恼火不已。
I’ve heard similar complaints from a senior resident of my neighborhood who peeved about the behavior of some Chinese students renting a home next door.
她指着几张在其精心维护的花园中飘散的某些烂纸称：“他们的垃圾不停地吹到我的草坪之上，我只得跟着他们后头捡。”
“Their garbage gets blown into my lawn all the time, and I have to pick it up,” she said, pointing to several pieces of tissue paper scattered on her well-maintained garden.
她告诉我说，她已经在这个社区居住了40多年，此前街道一直非常整洁，但自从几年前搬来一些中国留学生后情况就发生了变化。
She said that she has been living in this neighborhood for over 40 years, and the street had been always clean and tidy until the Chinese students moved in a few years ago.
我对她的不幸遭遇深表同情。根据多伦多市府的信息，有关物业庭院脏乱的投诉已屡见不鲜，并且多年来一直呈现上升趋势。
I can sympathize with her frustrations. According to information from the city of Toronto, dirty yard complaints are very common and have been on the rise over the years.
有许多相关投诉涉及到华裔社区成员并不出人意料。毫无疑问，加拿大19世纪的优良传承对于移民来说即遥远又陌生。当今中国的卫生标准远远低于西方国家，许多新移民将一些坏习惯也带到了加拿大。
And it isn’t a surprise that many of the complaints involve members in the Chinese community. Undoubtedly, the traditional heritage of 19th century Canada is alien for us immigrants. Today’s China has much lower hygienic standards than the West and recent immigrants have carried on some bad habits to Canada.
《大中报》最近就曾报道过刘先生的故事，市府承包商不仅修剪了其后院过长的杂草，还清理了庭院垃圾。但是市府随后开出的总额高达$1300元的账单却让刘先生大为光火。他因此提出投诉，指控市政执法人员擅自闯入其后院，并在未经其许可的情况下搬走其“贵重”物品的行为属于违法。
Chinese News recently reported a story of Mr. Liu whose overgrown grass was cut and backyard clutter removed by city contractors. But Liu was furious after receiving $1300 bill from the city. He complained that city bylaw officers broke the law by trespassing into his backyard and having his “valuable” goods removed without his permission.
但是《大中报》在调查后发现，如果业主违反市府附例的要求，市政执法人员有权清除庭院垃圾。
But Chinese News investigation found that bylaw officers have the enforcement power to remove backyard waste if the property owner fails to comply with the by-law order.
但是刘先生仍心存不甘。他声称被清理掉的从屋顶瓦片到纱窗，乃至庭院椅等垃圾都属贵重物品。
But Liu has remained defiant. He claimed that the backyard “waste” removed was valuable– ranging from roof shingles to window screens and even patio chairs.
据刘先生估计，这些“贵重物品”的总价值在$1万元左右。但是在像Cabbagetowner居民一样的住户看来，这些物品还有更好的去处——要么捐给Goodwill要么直接扔进垃圾堆。
Liu estimated that the total price of these “valuable goods” is around $10,000, but residents like the Cabbagetowner thinks there’s a much better home for them – either Goodwill or garbage dumps.
这种杂乱不堪的庭院无疑也会让我那位年迈的老邻居更佳不满，她认为维持清洁优美的社区环境是每个住户的责任，移民自然也不例外。
And this backyard clutter would have certainly fanned the flames of my disgruntled neighbour, who believes that a clean, beautiful community is the responsibility of every neighbour – including immigrants.
她称：“加拿大是一个美丽的国度，如果人们选择在这个国家生活，就应该保持自家物业整洁并维护社区环境。每个人都必须为此负起责任。”
“Canada is a beautiful country. If people choose to live in this country, keep your property tidy and respect your community. Everyone has to do their part,” she said.
编注：本文曾在2015年5月《大中报》上发表。
Note: The story was published in Chinese News in May, 2015.
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