The Top 10 Oddest Items

from the 15th annual

TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup

VANCOUVER - Each year as the TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup draws to a close, tales of the unusual begin to emerge... and 2008 is no different.

A record-breaking 63,000 Canadians registered for over 1,500 cleanups across Canada, and data is now beginning to stream in from the 15th annual TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup which ended last Sunday (September 28).

And now… presenting the Top 10 Oddities (reported to date):

• A parking ticket machine
• A bag of stolen purses
• The hood of a 1942 Mercury Truck
• A statue of Ganesh
• A message in a bottle
• A bullwhip
• A hot dog cart
• A “Royal Order of the Screechers” Certificate
• Half of a park bench
• A whole pizza

Please Note: We at the Vancouver Aquarium firmly believe the real message in that bottle is for all Canadians to remember the importance of keeping our shorelines clean!

“Our success this year is a reflection of the commitment shown by the thousands of individuals and community groups who are willing and able to do their part to protect our oceans and waterways.” says Angela Griffiths, Director, Conservation and Environmental Affairs, Vancouver Aquarium. “Most of the litter we find originates from land-based sources and the TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup makes an important impact in reducing the amount of litter that reach our aquatic environment.”

The TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup might be “officially” over for 2008, but there are many ways for Canadians to work together to keep our shorelines and waterways clean and green year-round.  Here’s a list of suggestions from the Vancouver Aquarium and the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation:

• Recycle and clean up your garbage, no matter where you are
• Properly dispose of cigarette butts and cigar tips
• Bring re-usable bags with you when shopping as a way to reduce the number of plastic bags ending up in landfills or on shorelines
• Purchase environmentally friendly products
• Join thousands of volunteers across Canada next September for the 16th annual TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. By giving as little as one hour of your time you can ensure our local shorelines and waterways are kept clean, healthy and in good condition for people, plants and wildlife.

About the TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup

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 12 years. The Cleanup began 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. In 2008, a record-breaking 63,000 participants registered for the national cleanup and committed to removing garbage from over 1,500 sites spanning from coast to coast.  Now in its 15th year, this year’s TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup ran from September 20-28, 2008.

About the Vancouver Aquarium:

The Vancouver Aquarium is a self-supporting, non-profit association dedicated to effecting the conservation of aquatic life through display and interpretation, conservation practices, education, research, and direct action.

-30-

Media Contacts:

Jean Fong                                                                                                            Kent Hurl

Communications & Special Events                                                                 Public Relations

604.659.3561                                                                                                      604.659.3752                                     

jean.fong@vanaqua.org                                                                      kent.hurl@vanaqua.org