New Community Group Aims to Clean Up Toronto Bay

A group of concerned citizens, environmental activists and community leaders has formed to clean up Toronto Bay. At one time the bay (a.k.a. Toronto's inner harbour) supported a broad variety of fish and wildlife habitat, but as Toronto grew the bay was placed under enormous environmental stress. This stress came partly from neighbouring industries, but specifically from storm run-off and sewer contamination. The result was that in 1985 Toronto Bay was included on the International Joint Commission's list of "pollution hot spots".

To help meet the goal of cleaning up the bay, a variety of concerned citizens have formed the Toronto Bay initiative, with start-up support from the Waterfront Regeneration Trust and Environment Canada. This grassroots movement, designed to clean up the water and restore nature to the shores of the bay, was officially launched on March 9, 1997 at an inaugural Toronto Bay Forum held on the Toronto waterfront.

Over the coming months the Toronto Bay initiative will develop a series of community projects to help meet the goal of cleaning up the bay. These projects will be undertaken by volunteers, and will include tree planting, assistance with water quality monitoring, and a variety of clean-ups.

The Toronto Bay Initiative hosts its first Bay Clean -Up on April 20, 1997. If you would like to help out or get more information on the Toronto Bay initiative, contact Leslie Woo, the Waterfront Regeneration Trust's Toronto Bay Project Manager, (416) 314-9498.

Switching channels in Black Creek (January 1997, Vol. 2, No. 4)
Cleaning up the Bay of Quinte one shovelful at a time (April 1997, Vol. 3 No. 1)