Keeping B.C.'s beaches and coastline clean year-round is vitally important to the protection of our aquatic life and ecosystems, which is why the B.C. government is partnering with the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup to hold cleanup events in communities throughout the province from Sept. 15 - 23, 2012.

In May 2012, BC Parks and the Vancouver Aquarium entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining a joint agreement to achieve outcomes that would improve the health of B.C.'s aquatic ecosystems and get more British Columbians involved in this goal. This includes identifying priority cleanup sites and cross-promotion of events like the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. BC Parks is co-ordinating events at 12 locations throughout the province this week, including a successful cleanup at Naikoon Provincial Park on Haida Gwaii this past weekend.

Minister of Environment, Terry Lake, will be joining volunteers in Kamloops on Wednesday morning along the beach on McArthur Island to pick up litter and debris that has washed up on the shore. This is just one of 616 registered shoreline cleanups taking place throughout the province.

The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is a conservation initiative of the Vancouver Aquarium and the World Wildlife Fund. The first cleanups began in 1994 along the shoreline of Stanley Park in Vancouver, and it became a national program in 2002.

The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is also a valued partner in B.C.'s planning process for cleaning up any tsunami debris that washes up along the coastline. The Tsunami Debris Coordinating Committee is working closely with local governments, First Nations and volunteer organizations such as the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup to keep our beaches clean.

Quotes:

Terry Lake, Minister of Environment -

"When it comes to doing our part and protecting the environment, the importance of volunteerism and having strong partners like the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is vital to meeting our common goals. Events like the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup are a great opportunity for British Columbians to get involved in a great cause and make a positive difference in communities throughout the province."

Jill Dwyer, manager, Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup -

"It is still not too late for volunteers to register for the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, which is taking place across the province through Sept. 23. The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is a great opportunity for Canadians to make a difference in their local communities by removing harmful shoreline litter that can negatively impact the people and wildlife that depend on healthy waters."

Quick Facts:

• In 2011, 26,194 British Columbians registered to be part of the cleanup - the highest participant rate across Canada.
• In 2011, British Columbians cleared 1128 kilometres of shoreline and removed 66,127 kilograms of litter.
• In 2011, the cleanup removed 401,330 items from B.C. shores - the most common being cigarettes and food wrappers/containers.
• Across Canada, in 2011, participants removed 143,737 kg of litter from 3,144 km of shoreline.
• The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup has become Canada's largest contributor to the International Coastal Cleanup, a global effort to remove harmful litter and aquatic debris from shorelines.
• BC Parks has co-ordinated events at the following 12 locations as part of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup.
• Sombrio Beach
• French Beach
• Elk River Falls
• Squitty Bay
• Haida Gwaii - Naikoon Park
• Porteau Cove
• Penrose Island
• Slocan/Valhalla Lakes
• Oval Bay - Porcher Island
• Charlie Lake
• Lakelse Lake Provincial Park
• Nisga'a Memorial Lava Bed Park

Learn More:

BC Newsroom - Ministry of Environment:

http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/ministries/environment-1

Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup: http://www.shorelinecleanup.ca

Contact:

Stuart Bertrand
Communications
Ministry of Environment
250 387-9630