THUNDER BAY – Juan Baztarrica is tired of seeing broken glass and garbage surrounding some of his favourite spots to cool off on a hot summer day.
So for the second straight year, Bastarrica helped organize a swimming hole cleanup, this time along the side of the Current River just off the access road to Centennial Park on a rainy Saturday afternoon.
“We just want to encourage people to take more pride in the swimming holes here,” he said.
“I lived in (British Columbia) for a while and you wouldn’t see one shred of garbage in a park there but for some reason in Thunder Bay people think it’s OK so I’m trying to change that mentality.”
The cleanup attracted more than a dozen volunteers who patrolled the side of the river searching for broken glass, discarded cans, cigarette butts and other waste. Some volunteers found a collection of old computer equipment that had been dumped as well as a car tire.
One volunteer even put on a wetsuit and was patrolling the bottom of the river searching for dangerous objects.
Baztarrica said should a pristine area should not have such unsightly garbage.
“This is one of my favourite spots to go. It’s really popular for families. People always bring their kids here,” he said. “I hate coming here and finding glass and trash here. It’s frustrating because it’s so easy to bring out with you.”
The crews received spring up to cleanup kits from EcoSuperior and filled five big garbage bags with all of the garbage they found.
Baztarrica wants the cleanup to send one message to the public.
“I’m hoping this will reach the people who are making the mess,” he said. “I don’t want the places I like going to looking like (dumps).”
