Tuesday, August 19, 2025
It is estimated that 22 million pounds of plastic enter the Great Lakes each year, a source of drinking water for more than 40 million Canadians and Americans. Shoreline cleanups help reduce pollution at the source, as well as raising awareness around the impact of waste and litter in our lakes and rivers.
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative has secured a grant from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to host the province’s first-ever Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup. The initiative will receive $85,000 through Ontario’s Great Lakes Local Action Fund to host six shoreline cleanups for this inaugural event.
The Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup will bring together more than 250 volunteers to collect up to 200 kilograms of litter at beaches, parks, and other shoreline areas along Lakes Superior, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, along with the St. Lawrence River. The Cities Initiative is partnering with six communities for this first multi-site cleanup: Thunder Bay, Chatham-Kent, Owen Sound, Collingwood, Cobourg, and Kingston. These municipalities will partner with local organizations to set up cleanup sites, provide supplies, and train volunteers.
“Kingston is proud to be one of the founding cities of the Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup,” said Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson. “Our community understands the deep connection between a healthy environment and a vibrant future. This initiative is a powerful way to bring residents together, raise awareness, and take real action to protect the Great Lakes shoreline. We’re excited to roll up our sleeves and make a meaningful impact this September.”
Todd McCarthy, Ontario’s Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, commented: “Our government is proud to support the first-ever Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup – a fantastic community initiative to clean plastic and litter from local beaches, parks and shorelines across the province. By investing in this project led by Cities Initiative, the Great Lakes Local Action Fund is making a lasting impact on the health of lakes and rivers in Ontario, contributing to stronger, healthier communities – now and for the future.”
Mayor Mat Siscoe, Co-Chair of the Cities Initiative and Mayor of St. Catharines added: “We thank the Government of Ontario for their generous support, along with the six participating communities, to host the province’s first Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup. This investment shows the Province of Ontario’s and these communities’ engagement and passion for protecting our most precious freshwater resources. We hope this cleanup will be the first of a growing annual movement across Ontario and all the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.”
In addition to the Government of Ontario’s generous support, the Cities Initiative recognizes financial and in-kind support provided by participating municipalities and Greenland Consulting Engineers.
The event will be kick off on World Rivers Day – September 28, 2025.
To learn more and to sign up to volunteer, visit: https://glslcities.org/great-lakes-coastal-cleanup
Featured photo credit: Getty Images
