Waterloo Region Nature Tackles the Cleanup of Laurentian Wetland

12 April, 2023

Leader: David M. Gascoigne

Members: Heather Bagg, Terry Best, Lisa Den Besten, Fraser Gibson, Lorne Harding, Victoria Ho, Marion Kelterborn, Anne Morgan, Elaine Mowbray, Kruti Patel, Crystal Rose, Mary Ann Vanden Elzen, Oliver Watts, Para Watts, Judy Wyatt

Guests: Meredith Blunt, Matt Clark, Marilyn Henderson

     A while ago, in despair at the condition of Laurentian Wetland, I wrote about it here. Fraser Gibson contacted me following publication of that article, having visited the area himself, and we agreed that something needed to be done. So it was that we organized a cleanup under the auspices of the world's greatest nature club, Waterloo Region Nature.

     As I look at the list of people who came out to lend a hand, I take my hat off to the women of our club, who outnumbered the men three to one. Let me also acknowledge the non-members who came out to help. Meredith and Matt are local residents and Marilyn was visiting Marion Kelterborn, all the way from South Carolina.

     I have become so dependent on Miriam to act as photographer that I neglected to take my camera, so there is no customary group picture, nor any pictures from me of the event itself, or the large number of garbage bags set out for pick up by the city at the end of the morning. I am indebted to Marion for all the pictures here.

     It was a beautiful day for the event and everyone gathered in high spirits ready to tackle the mess.

     Matt and Meredith signed the appropriate insurance waivers as non-members.

     Marion had some supplies left over from a cleanup at Lakeside Park last year and she brought them with her. 

     Everyone got what they needed, black bags for "regular" trash, white for recyclable items, grabber tools at the ready.

Judy, Anne, Heather, Mary Ann

     Lisa, ever ebullient, was delighted to be involved.

     Marilyn looked like a warrior from a Star Wars movie, ready to fight for truth and justice!

     Crystal was determined, and ceaseless in her dedication to the task at hand.

     Judy was bringing full bags to place at the kerb, to get new bags and begin afresh.

     Fraser was the very soul of dedication and hard work - no surprise there.

     We started out being amazed at some of the stuff we found, but soon nothing surprised us any more. There is no limit, it seems, to the capacity of humans to dump their trash and degrade the environment.

     I was with Lorne when he pulled a complete vacuum cleaner from the water. I also know that there is a tyre and a shopping cart in the storm water management pond, but the water level was high and we were unable to see them. How we might be able to get them out is another matter entirely.

     Kruti, who lives in the neighbourhood worked tirelessly, and bemoaned the need to clean up after uncaring people.

     Victoria worked incessantly and efficiently.

     It was encouraging that several people passing by took the time to thank us for what we were doing. We will see what we can do next year to encourage more residents to become involved, perhaps thereby stimulating local pride. It would also be very helpful if a few committed volunteers went along from time to time and cleaned up some of the easily accessible trash, especially those items that are likely to be blown into the water.

     There appears to be a need for a couple of garbage cans nearby, and that might go some way in mitigating the sheer volume of trash that we found. We will contact the city and see whether that can be arranged.

     Most of all though, a new attitude is what is needed, and until people take more pride in their living space it is difficult to believe that a great deal will change. If we are unable to take care of our own backyard, it is hard to believe that we will ever come to grips with global pollution.

     In the meantime, heeding the adage "Act locally, think globally," we will continue to do our part.

     Thanks to all of my cherished friends who came out to do what is right. You are simply the best.