Clean up Canada

It’s annoying to run into broken glass and cigarette butts while on the beach, but garbage that makes its way into the habitat of marine animals is more than an annoyance: it’s deadly. Steller sea lions, among other species, can get tangled in discarded fishing nets, plastic bags, and other debris. Nylon packing straps, which are used to tie boxes together, can get around the necks of the sea lions. As the sea lions grow, the nylon cuts into their necks until they’re unable to eat or breathe.

One way to prevent this from happening is to be conscientious about what you throw into the water or down a street drain. Another is to clean up the garbage before it causes any damage. That’s exactly what the TD Canada Trust Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup does.

Picking up the pieces
The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, presented by Loblaw Companies Limited, is one of the largest direct action conservation programs in Canada. A conservation initiative of the Vancouver Aquarium and WWF, the Shoreline Cleanup aims to promote understanding of shoreline litter issues by engaging Canadians to rehabilitate shoreline areas through cleanups.

The Canadian Shoreline Cleanup takes place every September and is truly a countrywide effort. All 13 Canadian provinces and territories are involved. Volunteers can clean up the shorelines of rivers, streams, oceans, lakes, and ponds.

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