Great Shoreline Cleanup in Longueuil: Content and Efficient Volunteers!

The first participants showed up early Sunday morning without the slightest idea of the titanic task that awaited them.
There was litter all the way to the wharf located behind the Longueuil Marina! And that is what upset us the most, to realize that so many people who visit this magnificent spot—offering a breathtaking view of the river and the Port of Montréal—still leave behind them their fishing lines, cigarette butts, newspapers, cups and so forth… Even full bags of garbage!
However, these volunteers’ contagious enthusiasm gives us hope for the future. This first cleanup marking the official launch of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup presented by Loblaw Companies Limited in the Montréal area was the demonstration of how much people love their shores and wish to do their part for the environment.

(c) Marie-Claude Lemieux/WWF Canada
The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup presented by Loblaw Companies Limited is also aimed at raising the public’s awareness of the importance of keeping our shores healthy for water quality, the species that live there and our own health! We all depend on water and, in the Montréal area, the water that runs from our faucets and that we drink comes from the St. Lawrence River.
Shoreline litter is dangerous in several respects. Plastics leach toxins that run off into the soil and water. Fish often ingest debris, which make their way into the ocean and have also been discovered in the stomachs of sea turtles. Birds sometimes use these debris to build their nests and occasionally suffocate to death on the objects they collect.
In the space of two hours, the 35 participants filled up a total of 44 bags, including 15 bags of recyclable material and 29 bags of garbage for a total of 119.2 kilograms! Some of the more uncommon items picked up included a folding chair, a hockey stick and… a BBQ!

Let’s make a bet. After having worked so hard, these volunteers are sure to become excellent ambassadors for our clean shorelines! No one must tolerate others who litter our shorelines. If you see someone doing just that, ask them to pick up their litter. Also, let’s demand from our municipalities and governments that more garbage and recycling bins be installed in our river parks and near our shores. Together, we can make a difference!