[Joint City of Thunder Bay and EcoSuperior media release]

The City of Thunder Bay and EcoSuperior are inviting residents and visitors to participate in the Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup this Sunday, Sept. 28, from 11 am to 2 pm at Lorne Allard Fisherman's Park. The Cleanup, hosted by the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Cities Initiative and funded by the Province of Ontario, will be a fun, family-friendly event. The event coincides with World Rivers Day.

Opening remarks will be made by MP Patty Hajdu and Mayor Ken Boshcoff, followed by traditional teachings with Ojibwe Elder Sheila De Corte. Safety tips will be shared by NorWest Community Health Centres before participants set out to clean up the nearby shoreline area. 

“We’re very pleased to be part of this cleanup of the Lake Superior shoreline,” said Danielle Thom, Climate Action Specialist for the City of Thunder Bay. “It’s the first event of its kind – specific to the shores of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. We look forward to welcoming the public. Make the most of your day by bringing a water bottle, closed-toe shoes or boots, and gloves if you have them.”

"We are excited to take part in this event alongside our community partners. Shoreline cleanups are an important part of solving the plastic pollution issue," said Kennedy Bucci, Litter Free Lakes Coordinator at EcoSuperior and Postdoctoral Fellow at Lakehead University. "By conducting a waste audit during our event, we will gain a better understanding of the pollution affecting Lake Superior—and use this data to support targeted strategies for prevention and education, protecting Lake Superior for generations to come." 

Thunder Bay is one of six cities participating in this first-ever Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup - along with Chatham-Kent, Cobourg, Collingwood, Kingston and Owen Sound. Participating cities will come together to protect our shorelines, remove litter, and show gratitude for the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin.

As there is limited parking at Lorne Allard Fisherman's Park, a free shuttle bus is available. Shuttle bus leaves the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium parking lot at 10:45 am, and to return, the bus leaves Lorne Allard Fisherman's Park parking lot 2:00 pm. To register for the shuttle, call 807-632-5528.

For more information on this event in Thunder Bay, visit www.thunderbay.ca/glcc/

Information from the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative: glslcities.org/great-lakes-coastal-cleanup/ 

 

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Contact: Danielle Thom, City of Thunder Bay Climate Action Specialist, 807-632-5528