The wet weather didn’t dampen the spirits of these beachcombers. 

Photo credit: VictoriaNow Jordan River is located about an hour-and-a-half west of Victoria on Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island’s Surfrider Foundation held their monthly beach cleanup at Sandcut Beach in Jordan River on Sunday morning, removing boatloads of marine debris from the shoreline. 

On the first Sunday of every month, the organization invites surfers and beach-goers alike to join together in keeping local beaches free of debris and trash. 

Sarah Graham—the organizer of the event—hopes their efforts will inspire more people to protect these sensitive environments.

“I think that people get inspired by the fact that we’re taking care of the beaches,” said Graham. “Even people who don’t come and pick up trash, they see us doing it and they’re like: ‘I’m going to clean up after myself’, because nobody is being paid to clean up this beach, somebody is out here in the rain cleaning it up.” 

The Surfrider Foundation is a grassroots environmental organization founded in Malibu, CA in 1984 by surfers wishing to see their favorite beaches protected for generations to come. Surfrider has now expanded to include over 50 chapters of their organization across North America—including three on Canada’s West Coast based in Vancouver, Victoria and Tofino/Ucluelet. 

While Surfrider has been championing the cause of Maine cleanup for over three decades—and with over eight million tons of waste added to the ocean every year—the BC provincial government is starting to take notice. Earlier this year, Environment Minister Georhge Heyman announced $9.5 million to fund efforts to reduce pollution in coastal marine ecosystems, doubling the budget from the previous year. 

With Jordan River being a popular spot for those looking to camp or catch a wave, conservation efforts by individuals and organizations like Surfrider are key in contributing to the protection of these beautiful but fragile ecosystems.