Between September 25 and October 4, members of the NC community participated in Niagara’s Virtual Fall Cleanup / Bioblitz, co-hosted by NC’s Office of Sustainability, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) and Brock University, along with supporters Swim Drink Fish and the Niagara Coastal Community.
During the week-long event, participants were encouraged to walk around their neighbourhoods, pick up litter, record their findings and take photos to post for the event’s social media channels, and to help Swim Drink Fish monitor Niagara’s waterways. Participants were also asked to survey and log any species they encountered along the way as part of the event’s bioblitz component.
Personal Support Worker student Joanna Lucas cleaning up her neighbourhood during Niagara’s Virtual Fall Cleanup/Bioblitz.
The event was a satisfying experience for Joanna Lucas, a student in NC’s Personal Support Worker program, who was motivated to participate after noticing large amounts of garbage scattered along the path near her home in Welland. She went out multiple times during the week and recruited a friend each time.
“We had such a good time cleaning up the community and we already have plans to go out again soon,” said Lucas. “It’s pretty satisfying knowing those paths are cleaner and maybe the people who use the trails regularly may notice less trash!”
NC’s sustainability program and outreach coordinator Amber Schmucker noted that 41 people officially registered for the event through Eventbrite and, from the data submitted by participants, 2,395 pieces of litter were collected from nine different areas across Niagara. The top five litter offenders were: cigarette butts (960), food wrappers (196), plastic pieces (156), plastic bags (143), and pieces of paper (127).
By the end of the clean-up event, Lucas collected six garbage bags full of waste items. She was thrilled to make a positive contribution to the environment and encourages others to get involved to help make a difference in their local neighbourhoods.
“Take 30 minutes and go clean up your street or favourite walking trail, you won’t regret it,” she said.
