Owen Sound marked World Rivers Day in a historic way Sunday, hosting the city’s first-ever Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup.
The event was part of a provincial initiative, with Owen Sound selected as one of only six Ontario communities to take part in the inaugural cleanup.
Supported by a grant from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks through the Great Lakes Local Action Fund, the effort was coordinated by the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative.
A total of 25 volunteers worked together to clean nearly one kilometre of shoreline, stretching from the Wastewater Treatment Plant to the harbour wall, including part of Kelso Beach. Their efforts filled 17 bags of garbage and recycling, removing roughly 150 pounds of waste from the shoreline. In all, volunteers contributed 46 hours toward the cause.
Mayor Ian Boddy praised the community’s role in the project.
"Owen Sound is proud to be part of Ontario’s first Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Coastal Cleanup," he stated. "Together with our volunteers and partners, we showed how small actions on our shoreline can make a big difference for the health of the Great Lakes."
The Georgian Bay Folk Society’s Summerfolk team assisted in recruiting volunteers, while Miller Waste provided refreshments and a garbage dumpster to support the cleanup.
The Coastal Cleanup raises awareness about plastic pollution, with an estimated 22 million pounds of plastic entering the Great Lakes each year. The initiative highlights the importance of local action in protecting ecosystems, wildlife, and drinking water.
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative represents more than 350 member communities across the region, working together to protect freshwater resources while promoting environmental, economic, and social well-being
