Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup

WHAT CANADA’S WATERS ARE HARBOURING

The 15th annual TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup launches nationally this Saturday with a record 60,000+ volunteers expected. As one of the world’s largest cleanups, the participants will remove approximately 100,000 kilograms of litter from nearly 1,500 sites from September 20 to 28, 2008.

“For 15 years, Canadians have proven their commitment and concern for our shorelines and this year we’ve set a new record with more than 60,000 participants,” said Roger St. Louis, Regional Manager, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.

Together with the Vancouver Aquarium, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation is hosting cleanup events in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax to kick off the TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. Here are a few of the unusual litter items recovered already:

• Kitchen sink
• Electric scooter
• Kid’s bike
• Oil drum

Angela Griffiths of the Vancouver Aquarium said that more than 140 marine species have been found entangled in marine debris and at least 160 marine species have ingested plastic and other debris off Canada’s coasts. “Most of the litter we find is from land-based sources with cigarette butts and plastic bags leading the way," said Griffiths.

The TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup originated in 1994 as a small beach cleanup with four employees from the Vancouver Aquarium who wanted to participate in the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup.

A view to downtown Vancouver from a Kitsilano beach
Photo by Sue Frause