Campbell River is a year-round refuge of natural beauty, with its expansive shoreline and ocean views.
This weekend, the Discovery Passage Aquarium is hosting a beach cleanup and it’s inviting you to come out and volunteer, helping to keep that beauty in top form.
On Sunday, Jan. 23, from 10 to 11 am, locals are hitting the beach across from Maryland Rd. on the south side of town – a site that’s often neglected, according to Ricky Belanger.
“We’ve gone out and done a couple of visual surveys of the beaches around Campbell River and also reviewed some of the records of cleanups in our area,” he told Vista Radio. “We found that the beach around Maryland Rd. is a site that has been overlooked.”
Belanger, the aquarium’s manager and curator, says it’s an “opportunistic position” for cleanup, as recent winter storms have washed debris ashore.
“This is the perfect time to act before all of that styrofoam and debris breaks up into small, small pieces that you can’t pick up efficiently,” Belanger said.
The aquarium will provide all of the gear to volunteers, including trash-grabbers, gloves and bags, “making it as easy as possible for people to get out on the beach and give back to the Passage.”
However, Belanger urges people to dress for the weather and wear proper footwear because the beach is likely slippery.
“Some of the driftwood may have shifted a little bit. Definitely some footwear with good traction, and, apart from that, bring a jacket if it’s rainy, maybe a toque if it’s cold.”
To sign up for Sunday’s beach cleanup, email [email protected] and include how many volunteers you’re bringing with you.
Due to COVID-19, Belanger encourages people to wear a face mask but notes that crews will be heading out to the beach in their social circles.
