Province to fund cleanup of 1,000 km of B.C. coastline
The province has committed $3.6 million to clean more than 1,000 kilometres of B.C. shoreline, while employing tourism industry workers, youth, and Indigenous peoples.
Three organizations will split the funding, which will see tonnes of ocean trash and debris removed from areas including Haida Gwaii, the Discovery Islands and parts of Vancouver Island.
In total, the three projects will create 240 jobs, 163 of which have been earmarked for youth, according to the province.
"After a very tenuous year for tourism, we are very grateful to be able to offer this additional work to our staff including many local youth, as well as their community members and local businesses who will be assisting with the project," said Rick Snowdon, co-owner of Spirit of the West Adventures in Heriot Bay, B.C.
"It is a win, win, win, the beaches get cleaned up, folks get back to work and everyone can feel good about their contribution to this project," he said.
Funding for the shore cleanups comes from the B.C. "Clean Coast, Clean Waters" initiative, which launched in 2020 and continued in 2021.
Since the initiative began, roughly 550 tonnes of ocean debris have been removed from B.C.'s shorelines. The debris included plastics, abandoned fishing gear and polystyrene foam.
The three organizations receiving the funding are: the Misty Isles Economic Development Society ($2.3 million), the Campbell River Association of Tour Operators ($767,000), and the Spirit of the West Adventures ($563,000).
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Baby boom amongst nurses leads to maternity ward closure in Listowel, Ont.
The emergency room at Listowel’s hospital is open today, but come summer, their obstetrics unit will be temporarily closing its delivery rooms.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.