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Host a Shoreline Cleanup

Can't make one of our events? Lead a cleanup in your community.

Ocean Wise is hosting a series of shoreline cleanups this spring in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal and we want YOU to join us!

Good news! Ocean Wise is hosting a series of shoreline cleanups this spring in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal and we want YOU to join us. Join us for a cleanup or register your own!

Can’t make it? Don’t fret. You can always lead your own cleanup on your local shoreline by heading to ShorelineCleanup.org.

Since 1994

30,542

Shoreline cleanups have been hosted

1,000,000

Volunteers have joined in

2,100,000

Kilograms of trash has been collected

In 1994, employees and volunteers at the Vancouver Aquarium decided to clean up a beach in Stanley Park to protect the city’s shorelines. From that first cleanup, the program expanded across British Columbia and by 1997, 400 volunteers were participating in the Great BC Beach Cleanup at 20 sites.

From there the program grew into a national conservation initiative called the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, a partnership with WWF Canada. In 2002 and cleanups started appearing in every province and territory. By 2003, more than 20,000 volunteers were taking part. Public support grew as Canadians became more aware of the harmful effects of shoreline litter on ecosystems, wildlife and people.

In 2021 shoreline cleanups expanded outside of Canada, launching in California and Texas. To reflect this new scope Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanups became the Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanup with a goal of getting 1,000,000 more volunteers out in their own communities by 2026!

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