The Surfrider Foundation is planning a pilot project to clean the shores of Thormanby Island on Oct. 10.
The Vancouver-based foundation is known for its monthly volunteer cleans of beaches in the Vancouver area, but recently organizers were alerted to the need to tidy up Thormanby Island.
“We have some friends who live in the Halfmoon Bay area and they mentioned that island is becoming a more and more popular destination for the boaters,” said Yura Kulikov, public events director with the Vancouver chapter of Surfrider.
He said his group suspects there “might be some issues with garbage being left or washed onto the shore of the island,” and they want to help rid the area of trash.
“We would like to do a beach cleanup there, and bring some attention of local communities,” Kulikov said.
“If everything goes well and we get support from the local community, our intent would be to make this a repetitive event.”
Kulikov invites members of the community who can access Thormanby Island to come help Surfrider Foundation volunteers pick up trash on the shore between 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10.
He encourages community members who can’t make it out to the island cleanup to select any day in October to go for a walk on a local beach and pick up garbage deposited there.
“It is important to physically clean the mess we did with our own hands,” Kulikov said.
“We also realize that beach cleanups are a great way to spread the word, educate ourselves and raise awareness about the ecological issues.”
The Surfrider Foundation is a global environmental non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network.
Find out more at www.vancouverbc.surfrider.org.
