Earlier this June, some dedicated volunteers made a big impact on one of the region's most unique areas.
To celebrate Oceans Week, volunteers from the “Trash Panda Brigade”—a group of local Paddle Canada instructors (SUP, kayak and canoe) who routinely do ocean cleanups around the South Island—went to the Gorge Waterway for a beach cleanup. The volunteers, ranging in age from kids to adults, pulled 760 kgs or 1,675 lbs of trash in approximately two hours. This included 23 tires, two of which were massive truck or tractor tires, a wrought iron garden bench, construction materials including traffic cones, signs, plumbing and pipe, a broken bicycle, countless bottles and broken glass, a stereo, two school chairs and a grocery cart.
A bin sponsored by Tillicum Centre allowed volunteers to collect the discarded items. Bin owner Island Junk Solutions confirmed that approximately 90 per cent of the trash collected is now in the recycling stream and diverted from the landfill. Importantly, it is also no longer in the Upper Gorge Waterway!
A massive thank to you all those who participated in donating time and resources to improve an important place in our community.
