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Taking care of the shoreline Performers to visit Fort Simpson
through the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre
Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, August 29, 2013
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
The Fort Simpson Historical Society is encouraging Fort Simpson residents to be part of the 20th anniversary of a nationwide initiative.
Martina Norwegian, on behalf of the Fort Simpson Historical Society, was the site co-ordinator for the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup in Fort Simpson in 2008. Once again, the society is organizing the village's participation in the national event. - NNSL file photo
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Sept. 21 to 29 marks the beginning of the second decade of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. During the cleanup, a conservation initiative of the Vancouver Aquarium and the World Wildlife Federation (WWF), Canadians are asked to remove litter from any shoreline in the country, whether it be ocean, river, lake or other.
The Fort Simpson Historical Society has organized the Fort Simpson contribution to the cleanup for approximately five years, said Martina Norwegian, the society's president. This year, the society will be holding its cleanup on Sept. 21, beginning at 1 p.m., at the McPherson House.
"I think it's fun to be part of a larger organization," she said.
The village's connection to the cleanup dates back even further than the society's participation. Heather Passmore and Stephen Rowan originally promoted the cleanup in the village.
In Fort Simpson, the cleanup focuses on the shores of the Mackenzie River, particularly the beach by the flats and as far along the riverbank beside the community as the volunteers have time to cover. It's important for residents to be involved in the cleanup, Norwegian said.
"We have to look after it because who else is," she said about the Mackenzie River.
Norwegian hopes other communities in the Deh Cho and the NWT will join the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup and start their own cleanups along their sections of the riverbank. Norwegian said she talks to harvesters who are constantly picking up garbage they find along the river.
The amount of garbage that volunteers find during the cleanup at Fort Simpson varies from year to year. One year, almost enough garbage bags were filled to fill a dump truck, she said. Items have included carpet, tires, string, plastic bags, cans and glass.
This year could be another cleanup where there is plenty to collect.
"A lot of people have said there's a lot of garbage down there," she said.
Gloves and garbage bags will be provided for all participants. In combination with the cleanup, the society will also be holding a used book sale. The sale, in its second year, helps draw people to the event, said Norwegian.
With advanced notice being given, Norwegian said she hopes more people will participate in the anniversary year. As many as 20 people have participated in the cleanup at Fort Simpson in the past.
The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup began with a handful of staff from the Vancouver Aquarium and volunteers who cleaned up a beach in Stanley Park as part of the national coastal cleanup, said Jill Dwyer, the manager of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup.
The cleanup started in British Columbia before going national in 2002. Since then, there have been cleanups in every province and territory each year, she said.
"We've always had strong participation from the NWT," said Dwyer.
Last year, five sites in the territory were cleaned up by 315 people. Each registered clean-up group is given sheets to record the types of garbage they pick up.
In the NWT, as well as the rest of the country, most of the items come from shoreline and recreational activities as people leave things behind while visiting a beach or waterfront, Dwyer said. Last year, the five most commonly found items during the cleanups in the territory were cigarettes and cigarette filters, food wrappers and containers, paper bags, caps and lids and plastic bags.
As part of its initiative, the cleanup promotes the use of reusable items and the proper disposal of garbage. The ultimate goal is to not have to hold the cleanup, she said.
Dwyer encourages people to get involved in the cleanup.
"It's a great way to connect with your community," she said as well as a way to remove shoreline litter and aquatic debris.
People can register on the cleanup's website either as a site organizer for a new clean-up site or as a participant for an established cleanup.
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