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Garbage truck driver makes Okotoks toddler's day

A Town employee went the extra mile to get a smile from a baby playing at Woodgrove Park.
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An Okotoks waste disposal truck.

One-and-a-half-year-old Andi Vandevalk loves the garbage truck. 

Mom Sarah Vandevalk said every Friday morning, she stands in the window and waits for the truck to pass by her house. 

"It's so sweet because [the driver] always waves back," Sarah told The Wheel. 

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​One-and-a-half-year-old Andi Vandevalk's eyes light up when she sees the Town of Okotoks garbage truck. Photo courtesy of Sarah Vandevalk.

On this particular Friday, Sarah took her kids to Woodgrove Park. While there, the driver stopped to wave again, but a little differently this time. 

"Not only do you wave to her every Friday morning, but today at the park you stopped in front of her and extended the arm on your truck and made it wave," she wrote in a post to a community Facebook page, praising the driver. 

Sarah said Andi was so excited to see the truck again. 

"She talked about it all morning telling us that she waved to the truck," said her mom. 

The family moved to the Woodhaven area about a year ago and Sarah said the neighbourhood is very friendly. It means a lot for a Town employee to go the extra mile, she said, adding that the operator is her daughter's "favourite person." 

"Our Town employees are so busy, so for him to take time out of his day to make her smile is so special," Sarah said. 

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