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.

Taking out the trash has never been this fun! Watch as volunteers get down and dirty to save our shorelines.

Picking up the pieces
Coordinated by the Vancouver Aquarium, the TD Canada Trust Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is part of an international effort to clean up shorelines around the globe. It is one of the largest environmental events in Canada and the second largest cleanup in the world. In 2005, over 36,000 Canadians removed 86,201 kg of garbage from their local shorelines. That weighs about as much as 430 Steller sea lions!

The TD Canada Trust Great 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. Divers can even clean up underwater.

To sign up for the TD Canada Trust Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, take a look at their website. Anyone who registers by August 31st will receive all clean up tools and supplies free of charge.