Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup Data Reveals Cleanest & Dirtiest Shorelines in New Brunswick and Across The Nation

Results show where the most and least litter was collected during the 2010 Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup

(Toronto and Vancouver – August 17, 2011) Where are some of Canada’s cleanest and dirtiest shorelines? The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, presented by Loblaw Companies Limited, today released a list of its most and least littered shorelines across Canada, based on results from the 2010 cleanup. The list shows that Canada’s shorelines need some help. To make your favourite shoreline clean and healthy for the communities and wildlife that depend on it, register today for this year’s Shoreline Cleanup, September 17 to 25, at www.ShorelineCleanup.ca.

Quotes

“We hope that Canadians will be inspired by this list and the difference they can make as Shoreline Cleanup participants.”
– Jill Dwyer, Program Manager, Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, Vancouver Aquarium

“This list shows what a great difference the cleanups can make to our rivers, lakes and oceans – the amount of litter that was removed is remarkable and, if neglected, could have serious impacts on the health of our waters.”
– Tony Maas, Director, WWF’s Freshwater Program

“We are thrilled to be supporting this conservation initiative through our national charge-for-plastic shopping bag program and to know what a difference Canadians can make for their shorelines and the planet.”
– Bob Chant, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Loblaw Companies Limited

The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, presented by Loblaw Companies Limited is also supported by The Home Depot Canada Foundation and Molson Canadian Red Leaf Project as national sponsors, and in Ontario, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.

Correction: August 19, 2011

Please note that Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup’s recent media release on Canada’s cleanest and dirtiest shorelines is based on data from the 2010 Shoreline Cleanup. In this release, Sydenham Lake was identified as the shoreline in Canada where the most litter was collected. More specifically, it was Millhaven Creek, a long untended area of the Sydenham Lake watershed, where the greatest kilograms per kilometer of litter was collected, which included a car that was pulled from the creek.  We apologize for any confusion this has caused.

The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup would like to thank the students and teachers who cleaned Millhaven Creek in 2010.  Their hard work and dedication has helped to make the Sydenham Lake watershed healthier for everyone.

- 30 -

About the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup
The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, presented by Loblaw Companies Limited, is one of the largest direct action conservation programs in Canada. A conservation initiative of the Vancouver Aquarium and WWF, the Shoreline Cleanup aims to promote understanding of shoreline litter issues by engaging Canadians to rehabilitate shoreline areas through cleanups. www.ShorelineCleanup.ca

About the Vancouver Aquarium
The Vancouver Aquarium is a global leader in connecting people to our natural world, and a self-supporting, non-profit association dedicated to effecting the conservation of aquatic life through display and interpretation, research and direct action. www.vanaqua.org

About WWF
WWF is creating solutions to the most serious conservation challenges facing our planet, helping people and nature thrive. www.wwf.ca

About Loblaw Companies Limited
Loblaw Companies Limited, a subsidiary of George Weston Limited, is Canada’s largest food retailer and a leading provider of drugstore, general merchandise and financial products and services. www.loblaw.ca

For more information, please contact:
Ryley Murray, WWF - rmurray@wwfcanada.org, 416-489-4567 ext. 7337
Jean Fong, The Vancouver Aquarium – jean.fong@vanaqua.org, 604-659-3561