For three years VIU’s Surfrider Club has taken its mandate from The Surfrider Foundation, an international non-profit that works to protect and preserve oceans and beaches around the world. Nanaimo’s branch at VIU planned three clean-up sessions this spring term.
Surfrider Nanaimo hosted a beach clean at Maffeo Sutton Park on February 28th and another at Piper’s Lagoon March 14th, both from 11 AM to 1 PM. It also collaborated with Surfrider South Vancouver Island to go to Tofino March 20th to 22nd, hiking to Radar beach, cleaning the shoreline and carrying the garbage out. The club volunteers camped overnight to keep costs low for the two-day effort.
VIU’s Surfrider Club was founded by Claire Harlow and Ferrous Burgi, who met in the university’s nursing program. Harlow volunteered with the organization in Victoria, which inspired her to create a branch in Nanaimo with Burgi.
“When I came to Nanaimo, I didn’t really know anybody and I missed the community aspect…. There weren’t really any clubs at VIU that were necessarily [assuming] that kind of role,” said Harlow.
Harlow and Burgi are hoping to attract long-term members dedicated to the cause. “It really depends on the help we can get because it does fluctuate quite a bit since people are in university….People say they are a part of Surfrider, but don’t necessarily have the follow through to do the work,” said Harlow.
“Right now we have nine executives,” Harlow said. When they originally formed the organization, their goal was to build a foundation strong enough that they could leave when they graduated and someone else could take over.
At beach cleaning events, a tent is set up to house cleaning supplies. On average, the Club has collected 30 pounds of unsorted garbage per beach clean. “I would say every year we probably do at least a couple hundred pounds,” said Harlow. Volunteers that come to the clean-ups are supplied with a bucket, gloves, and a trash grabber to collect waste.
Garbage is sorted into different categories, recorded, and uploaded to the Surfrider database online. Once the data is recorded the City of Nanaimo collects the garbage. Several local businesses support the Surfrider Club’s efforts.
“Cob’s Bread has been the biggest support for us. We just call ahead a day before and they give us 12 boxes of baked goods,” said Burgi. Alternative Groove and Valhalla Pure Outfitters have donated items as prizes for the volunteers, providing an extra incentive for them to participate.
The most common findings at beach clean-ups are often single use items, such as cigarette butts and shotgun shells. “Expanded polystyrene is a very common item we find. It’s a packed white foam that looks like beads, and it gets all over the beaches,” said Harlow.
For those interested in volunteering, refer to Surfrider Nanaimo’s Instagram page, where beach clean-up dates are posted, and executives can be contacted through direct messages.
