In light of the recent oil spills in the Swan Creek and Colquitz Creek, it has become an increasingly important reminder to our community to keep the areas around these watersheds clean.
The waterways provide grounds for spawning salmon as well as feeding areas for local waterfowl. We walk our children to school along Swan Creek and tire of seeing litter in and around the creek.
My husband and daughter (who is a Brownie with 47th Raven Brownies), took time out of their day on Saturday to clean up the hillside near the banks of Swan Creek, along Columbine Road.
They collected four bags of refuse, two bags of bottles, and a shopping cart. Among this were shopping bags of diapers and dog feces.
It doesn’t take much time out of your weekend to organize a small family and friends local park clean up, and the feeling of contributing to your local green space is wonderful.
We contacted Saanich parks and recreation afterwards to notify them of the location of the garbage bags and they acknowledged our work and will pick up the refuse.
Even if you don’t pick up other people’s trash, please remember to use the trash bins provided in park areas. The kids who walk to school along the pathways and the spawning salmon thank you.
Wendy Okopski
Saanich