FROM VANCOUVER TO HALIFAX, COWTOWN TO HOGTOWN,

THE TD GREAT CANADIAN SHORELINE CLEANUP UNCOVERS

WHAT CANADA’S WATERS ARE HARBOURING

• The 15th annual TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup launches nationally this Saturday with a record 60,000-plus volunteers expected.
  
• Vancouverites not preregistered for a cleanup, can join a local drop-in site.

VANCOUVER—September 19, 2008 — There may be plenty of fish in the sea, but Canadians only have eyes for their local waters as a record-breaking number of volunteers participate in the 15th annual TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. One of the world’s largest cleanups, this year’s more than 60,000 participants will remove approximately 100,000 kilograms of litter from almost 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. “We’ve kicked off our national cleanup with events right across the country and the types of litter we’re finding is alarming. The world’s largest fresh water supply is found in Canada and it’s important that we make keeping it clean a priority.”

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:

“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,” said Angela Griffiths, Director, Conservation and Environmental Affairs, Vancouver Aquarium. “Most of the litter we find is from land-based sources with cigarette butts and plastic bags leading the way. Besides the danger it poses to marine life, garbage on our shorelines negatively impacts our civic pride, tourism and recreation industries. The TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is the perfect opportunity for Canadians to get involved in a hands-on conservation program and really make a difference together.”

How Vancouverites Can Help

Vancouverites who haven’t registered for a cleanup can join the public drop-in cleanup site on Saturday, September 20 at Kitsilano Beach Park starting at 10:00 a.m.

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 2007, a record-breaking 50,000 volunteers participated in the national cleanup and removed 87,489 kilograms of garbage from 1,240 sites spanning a collective distance of 1,772 kilometres.  Now in its 15th year, this year’s TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is on 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. 

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Media Contacts:

Jean Fong                                                                                 Kent Hurl

Communications & Special Events                                                  Public Relations

604.659.3561                                                                             604.659.3752