What’s happening? The Queensborough Special Programs committee and New Westminster Environmental Partners are teaming up to sponsor this year’s Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 9:30 a.m. in Queensborough.
Tell me more: Participants will be planting two permanent trees and removing invasive plants and replacing them with native plants to help protect the foreshore ecosystem. They’ll also be collecting garbage along the foreshore.
“We find some pretty major things,” said Laurel Wright, a member of the Queensborough Special Programs committee. “What we have been doing has made a big difference. There’s always more to do.”
Is there anything new at this year’s event? Local sculpture artist Lisa Egan will be leading a community art project. Using interesting pieces of garbage gathered at the cleanup, community members can help her transform the discarded junk into a sculptural masterpiece that will be displayed at RiverFest on Sept. 24.
“Lisa Egan has done a few art projects in Queensborough. She wanted to do something with either natural materials or with found objects,” Wright said. “It depends on what we find. If we find some interesting garbage, she will do something. If it’s just plant material, we will do something with that too.”
Why should people get involved? The shoreline cleanup is not only fun, but it’s also educational.
“It is a good learning experience,” Wright said.
Who can take part? Everyone is invited to participate in the sixth annual Queensborough shoreline clean-up, but children must be supervised. Participants are asked to bring their own gloves, shovels, rakes and clippers. Refreshments will be provided.
While many New Westminster Environmental Partners members have attended the shoreline cleanup in the past, Wright said the goal is to get a better turnout from Queensborough residents than in past years.
Sounds fun – how do I get involved? You can sign up at www.shorelinecleanup.ca (south-dyke-road-riverfront) ahead of time, or show up at South Dyke Road, at the foot of Carter Street, starting at 9:30 a.m. to sign participation waivers and head out from there. More information can be found at the Queensborough Special Programs committee’s Facebook page.
