On Sunday, April 17th, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) will be hosting its annual Watershed Wide Cleanup for the sixth consecutive year.
There are four sites to choose from.
The cleanup will be held at Heart Lake road in Brampton, Southfields Village in Caledon, Ebenezer Road in Brampton and at Colonel Sam Smith Park in Toronto. The event is free to join and all volunteers will be provided with gloves, a garbage picker and garbage bags. Events typically last for 2 to 3 hours. Snacks and drinks will be provided to all participants for their hard work.
Last year 203 enthusiastic volunteers helped remove 2000 pounds of garbage and over 2000 cigarette butts from four sites around the GTA. Participants removed plastic bottles, food wrappers and coffee cups as well as a few unique items including roofing shingles, tiles, a bathroom sink, a car bumper and so much more!
By volunteering, participants help remove contaminants; improving the overall health and function of the watershed. The opportunity to volunteer provides participants with a greater appreciation and understanding of natural spaces within the urbanized environment.
Alan Roy, volunteer and steward of the Etobicoke and Mimico watershed, for several years has coordinated a cleanup in partnership with the TRCA at Colonel Sam Smith Park: “I’ve made some great friends, not just contacts . . . I’ve seen some great transformation and been part of some terrific partnerships. Many more of them are ahead. There is no greater sense of achievement then reviewing the before and after event photos. That includes the pictures of volunteers with their self-satisfaction grins.”