Marine divers go under for TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup
Shopping cart, bike, car parts, Big Wheel, roll of carpet, among items recovered from
waterways in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Halifax
VANCOUVER and TORONTO — September 1, 2009 — Marine life in Canada are sharing their natural habitats with the likes of shopping carts, car parts, bikes, pylons, a roll of carpet and other refuse pulled out of the water by naval and police dive teams in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Halifax this morning in support of the 16th annual TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup (TD GCSC), happening September 19 to 27 at nearly 1,500 shorelines across Canada. Items recovered by divers over the years include a hotel safe, a scooter, the hood of a 1942 Mercury Truck, a hot dog cart and even a rickshaw.
“While submerged car parts and shopping carts are impressive trophies, the real victory will be to rid our shorelines of common litter like cigarette butts and plastic bottles and bags that threaten marine ecosystems,” said Mary Desjardins, Executive Director, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. “The TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup unites passionate volunteers from coast-to-coast-to-coast in a simple, fun and extraordinarily powerful initiative.”
Marine dive team volunteers included The Naval Reserve units HCMS DISCOVERY in Vancouver, HMCS TECUMSEH in Calgary, and HMCS SCOTIAN in Halifax, as well as the Toronto Police Marine Unit and Fire Services.
It’s not too late! Site Coordinator registration for the TD GCSC ends September 4!
Canadians can still volunteer as a site coordinator and register their own cleanup team, or join an existing cleanup online at www.tdgcsc.ca. By registering online in advance, volunteers will receive support such as free cleanup supplies as well as important tips, information and online resources.
“The TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup continues to be one of the largest environmental cleanups in the world,” said Jill Dwyer, Program Manager, TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. “We’re on pace for another record turnout this year, signalling that the health of the world’s largest fresh water supply is of serious concern to Canadians.”
Those already participating can keep up-to-date by following TD GCSC on Twitter @TDcleanshores, or join the Facebook ‘TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup’ fan page and show their support for shorelines in their community.
Public Cleanup Kick-Off Events, September 19 and 20
Canadians are also invited to attend one of five TD GCSC kick-off cleanup events to be held in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax on September 19th and 20th, 2009. These free public cleanup events will feature live entertainment – including hit Canadian band Crash Parallel in Toronto and Montreal – refreshments, great prizes, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF) Kids Monster Mural, and more!
September 19, 2009:
- Vancouver, British Columbia
Kitsilano Beach Park: 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. PST - Calgary, Alberta
Bowness Park: 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. MST - Toronto, Ontario
Woodbine Beach Park: 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m EST - Halifax, Nova Scotia
Point Pleasant Park (Black Rock Beach): 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m AST
September 20, 2009:
- Montreal, Quebec
St. Lawrence River/ LaSalle Riverfront: 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m EST
About the TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup (TD GCSC)
TD Bank Financial Group has been a proud sponsor of the TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, a Vancouver Aquarium conservation program, through its TD Friends of the Environment Foundation for more than 13 years. The TD GCSC began in 1994 as a small beach cleanup with a handful of employees from the Vancouver Aquarium who wanted to participate in the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. In 2008, a record-breaking 63,491 Canadians registered for 1,531 sites across the country and removed 135,467 kilograms of garbage from a collective distance of 2,152 kilometres. Now in its 16th year, this year’s TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup takes place from September 19-27, 2009. For more information or to register please visit www.tdgcsc.ca.
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For more information, contact:
Aurora Bonin
TD Friends of the Environment Foundation
604-654-8832
aurora.bonin@td.com
Matthew Cram
TD Bank Financial Group
416-983-1514
matthew.cram@td.com
Jean Fong
Vancouver Aquarium
1-800-375-8776
shorelinemedia@vanaqua.org