Surfrider Foundation Vancouver

Give today and join our growing network of coastal defenders. Donate to be a monthly or annual member and help add your name to the Surfrider coalition. Your donation goes directly to supporting Surfrider as a key stakeholder in upholding and providing the federal government with feedback on Canada’s Single Use Plastics ban. We CAN ban single use plastics in a better way TOGETHER.
BONUS: more membership perks will also be unveiled in the days to come.

In just 1km stretch of coastline along English Bay, the rain stayed away long enough for a productive and efficient beach clean with you all! The Halloween spirit + stoke for cleaning one of the most notoriously cigarette butt polluted beach in The lower mainland were inspiring! Thank YOU for showing up to clean our beach together today.
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🚬 2800+ butts collected
👯‍♀️ 48 volunteers
🪣 12 pounds of trash consisting of microplastics and soft plastics
💯 stoke
🙏🏻 to all our partners and sponsors that made a special Halloween costume contest come alive! 🎃 👻
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Halloween Edition Beach Clean Up! Sat Oct 29 @10 am | English Bay
What better excuse to dress up for Halloween do you need this year? A beach clean up of English Bay.

Join Surfrider Vancouver for a beach clean where we will run a costume contest for the best costume (by popular vote/loudest beach cheers) so please feel free to go crazy :)

RSVP so we can log down your good work in helping us stay data driven at all our beach cleans! LINK IN BIO https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/english-bay-beach-cleanup-halloween-costume-contest-tickets-413725854167?aff=escb&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing.

While we advocate for going waste free wherever and whenever you can, small steps also count. Consider going waste free for Halloween, but if you are going to be trick or treating, here’s a reminder of all locations you can drop off your candy wrappers, and/or chip bags, otherwise known as soft plastics/other flexible packaging:

1) City Of Vancouver’s zero waste centre: https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/zero-waste-centre.aspx

2) London Drugs - big shout out for taking soft plastics at your store: https://greendeal.ca/recycling

Rain or shine we will be loving our beach clean Saturday Oct 29 -1pm. Meet us right behind the cactus club English bay (look for the Surfrider Canada tent). All ages welcome and we will be giving a prize for the best costume (loudest cheer on the beach). RSVP to let us know you’re coming: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/english-bay-beach-cleanup-halloween-costume-contest-tickets-413725854167?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=escb

EPS Pollution — Surfrider Foundation Canada

📣 Now is your final chance to make your voice heard in the movement to ban expanded polystyrene (EPS) in the marine environment!

EPS is a cheap and lightweight material that easily degrades and has costly implications for local marine ecosystems and coastal communities. When left stranded in the marine environment, EPS fragments may be ingested by marine mammals, birds, and fish, etc. EPS also contains carcinogens like styrene, when these chemicals are released into the environment and make their way into the food chain, they pose a threat to human health.

The good news is that there are many readily available alternatives that can be used instead of EPS, especially for floats for docks, rafts, aquaculture amenities and other marine infrastructure. Air-filled flotation devices can easily replace EPS. There are already a number of products on the market manufactured in B.C. that provide a more weather-resistant and sustainable alternative to EPS floats

EPS has no places in the environments we depend on and call home. Get your letter in now to your local representative to make sure they vote in favour of a prohibition on EPS in the marine environment in a few days!

ADOPT A DOCK! You can also support Surfrider’s work to replace EPS foam docks with sustainable alternatives by donating 🌊

https://canada.surfrider.org/eps-pollution

EPS Pollution — Surfrider Foundation Canada EPS PollutionAddress expanded polystyrene pollution through the activations below! What is expanded polystyrene and why is it an everyday disaster? Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a chemical laden form of unstable plastic that does not biodegrade, yet is one of the most common materials used in Canadi...

We are stoked to be cleaning Kits beach with Greenpeace Canada and Georgia Strait Alliance this Saturday. Check in starts at 10:30am and we will love our beach clean together.
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Each of us will have a table and tent so drop by to say hello and learn more about the coastal defence each of us are doing. RSVP on eventbrite for our cleanup: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/kitsilano-beach-cleanup-saturday-sep-10-2022-tickets-393211936487

🍃 Learn more about how you can support Greenpeace Canada’s call to action to add your voice to the UN’s Global Plastic Treaty: https://act.greenpeace.ca/en-ca/support-global-plastics-treaty?_ga=2.210954197.1901052073.1662613635-307995149.16626136

🐋 Discover more about Georgia Strait Alliance’s restoration and marine education programs: https://georgiastrait.org/

Have you voiced your support to refill and reuse? Check out the activism and support Greenpeace Canada is urging everyone to review and take action.

Big Plastic is using the Federal Government over its single-use plastic ban. One way around this? Make single-use plastic obsolete! Tell Steven Guilbeault: it's time to support a National Reuse & Refill strategy! >> https://act.gp/3TeJiwv

Big Plastic is shaking in its single-use plastic boots. That's because it's banking on INCREASING the amount of single-use plastic production over the next 10 years to compensate for the loss in profits around the direct sale of oil and gas. The legislation that Canada has passed – listing ‘plastic manufactured items’ as a toxic substance under the Canadian Environment Protection Act and the recent plastic ban – are threatening it's big plans to make big profits off expanding the pollution of the planet.

It's more important than ever that the Federal Government recognize widely accessible and affordable Reuse & Refill systems as an integral piece in Canada's strategy – to stop Big Plastic in its tracks.

If you've got reuse and refill, you don't need single-use plastic. Period.

We're so close to beating plastic pollution. ADD YOUR VOICE now >> https://act.gp/3TeJiwv

Big Plastic might be able to sue the Government, but they can't sue the Reuse Revolution ✊

On September 10th, Surfrider Foundation Vancouver will be cleaning up and sorting the waste collected on Kits beach, and we need your help! Our cleanups are a fun and easy way to get involved and give back. Come by and/or bring your friends to meet some cool folks who share a common value of saving our planet!

Hey, Surfrider network!

In case you missed Surfrider Canada's post, we are performing research that will support Surfrider Canada’s marketing and expansion strategy, which will strengthen the Surfrider chapter network across Canada and further help address the issues affecting Canada’s coastlines.

By completing this survey you will be able to have a direct impact on Surfrider Canada's future priorities and direction, ensuring that we can continue to protect the marine environment in Canada!

Please answer this 10-minute survey and be entered to win an .life 70 ($329.00 value!), the all-in-one system to pack, move, and use your valuable gear.

Link In bio
https://linktr.ee/surfridervan

Yes that’s right- we’re back with our beach clean ups!! Our July clean up is happening on Saturday July 23rd 9:00am at Wreck Beach. We can wait to hang with you, create an impact and build strong community! Tag your friends and bring them along!! P.s thank you for all the love you showed on our clean up story announcement! ❤️.

Hope y’all didn’t forget that the third Tuesday of July is coming up!!! We can’t wait to meet you at our social. Swing by at the at 5:30pm for some fun conversation with really cool folks! See ya there

We’re stoked to kick start our events and hang with y’all! Join us for the screening of “The Yin & Yang of Gerry Lopez” directed by Stacy Peralta this Thursday July 14th at 7:00pm. There’s is going to be food by the best and drinks available for purchase by .beer kombucha! What’s the best part? The proceeds from this event will be doing to and we couldn’t be more grateful! Hope you see you and your friends there this Thursday 🤙🏼

That’s right! The third Tuesday of the month we meet up at 5:30! Come by and make some new friends! This month it’s June 21st!

how do surfers say hi?
…they wave! Don’t forget to come say hi this coming Tuesday (third Tuesday of the month) at 5pm for our monthly social!

We’re recruiting for our Executive Board. These are volunteer positions which we expect to have 2 - 4 hours a week dedicated to the chapter.
Recruiting for communications, treasurer, volunteer leads. Please email [email protected] with which position you’re interested in, why Surfrider and a little about yourself. Thanks to all who are interested!

clean up on April 23 at Kitsilano Beach. 10am - 1pm in partnership with come down and pick up some trash and make new friends!

Surfrider Foundation Canada Board of Directors appoints Lucas Harris as Executive Director.
Lucas leads Surfrider Foundation Canada through the process of becoming an international affiliate organization of the Surfrider Foundation based in the US, as it aims to strengthen and expand the existing Canadian chapter network.

Prior to joining Surfrider Foundation Canada, Lucas served as a regulator with the British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, where he led the introduction of several groundbreaking pollution reduction policies and programs. In 2014, Lucas oversaw the introduction of the first 100% extended producer responsibility program for paper and packaging in North America, where industry assumed full financial and managerial responsibility for the residential recycling system. In 2020, Lucas developed and led the Clean Coast Clean Waters Initiative, the largest shoreline cleanup project in the history of the province, providing over $19M to tourism operators and coastal communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to to fund shoreline cleanup projects across BC. Read more here: http://www.canada.surfrider.org/press-releases

What a sunny, crisp morning to clean the beach vancouver! Thank YOU to all that came out to connect with us and to do your part in checking out, picking up and sorting through litter at kits beach today.

Stay tuned for more updates from our chapter. If you’d like to get involved on our executive committee or just learn more about our chapter and Surfrider Canada as a whole email us or check back on our social channels! email: [email protected].

Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow from 10am-12pm for our flash clean. Costumes are not requried by highly encouraged. Please also BYO mug/cup as there will be hot chocolate and coffee from to fuel your sunny saturday morning. We love supporting local businesses!

Reminder to please bring your own clean up gear (household bucket, tongs, gloves) and the Surfrider tent will be your litter drop off so we can sort and dispose properly.

Please also download the marine debris tracker app and start logging what you find right on your phone. This will be the easiest way for our impromptu clean up to be data-driven by YOU, our dedicated citizen scientists!

A member of Surfrider Canada will also be in attendance to answer any other questions you may have about Surfrider's work in Vancouver. See you out there!

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Fall is known for reminiscing and nostalgia. Autumn in VANCOUVER is no exception. Our stoke level is high for our impromptu kits beach clean up, and we can’t help but reminisce about our 2019 clean up at Kits Beach where we saw over 200 volunteers come out and a LOT of cigarette butts removed. We ❤️kits. We love you 👋🏻
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Ocean Love - Surfrider Vancouver Art Auction

"Ocean Love" - 3 DAYS LEFT!

Support our artists, bid on beautiful ocean-themed artwork, and help fundraise our ocean conservation efforts 🌊

Head to our auctions page now to place your bids!

https://www.32auctions.com/organizations/81748/auctions/100291?r=1&t=all

Ocean Love - Surfrider Vancouver Art Auction Silent auction 'Ocean Love - Surfrider Vancouver Art Auction' hosted online at 32auctions.

Treat Our Salish Sea | O B A B I K A

There's still time to take action! UPDATE on the Treat our Salish Sea campaign with Obabika



Our Treat Our Salish Sea Campaign is an effort to install a higher treatment level in Metro Vancouver's largest plant that would stop toxins and micro plastics from entering the marine environment.



When we started this campaign, we had an end date set on January 2021, as outlined by Metro Vancouver's date. In late December we received word that the committee meeting which decides the treatment level at Iona Island will be postponed until May 28th, 2021.

This was somewhat expected and, while it has us on our heels, is a great opportunity to reach an even larger audience to advocate for better waste water treatment worldwide. Please support us, sign the petition and spread the word!

You can learn more, and take action here: www.obabika.org/treatoursalishsea

Treat Our Salish Sea | O B A B I K A There is no question that a higher standard - tertiary treatment - should be implemented as soon as possible to stop pollution from entering the marine environment.

Surfrider Foundation Vancouver is seeking a highly organized and proactive Volunteer Coordinator volunteer to join its executive committee.

If you are passionate about protecting Vancouver’s coastlines, we want to hear from you! We are the Vancouver Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, a global environmental non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of oceans, waves and beaches.

Volunteer Coordination Team:

The Volunteer Coordination team is an integral part of the chapter’s operations, and acts as the connection between the general public / volunteers and the chapter. Team is responsible for creating positive and consistent relationships within the chapter and with general public volunteers; and for supporting the Events team by recruiting volunteers for specific events, programs and campaigns.

Key Responsibilities:

- Managing the Volunteer Coordination Team
- As a Member of Executive Committee, participating in strategic and tactical meetings; voting on key chapter decisions
- Recruiting volunteers for chapter lead and support positions, working with the team to identify volunteer needs.
- Lead volunteer recruitment by communicating those needs to the membership forum and posting volunteer opportunities where appropriate eg: newsletters, facebook, website
- On-boarding and off-boarding of chapter leads, supporting succession planning for volunteers.
- Help team members familiarize themselves with role specifics and chapter tasks / systems
- Responding to email requests sent to the volunteer coordinator email box
- Socialize with the public at chapter events, and discussing volunteer opportunities
- Managing the volunteer requests directory
- Recruiting volunteers for specific events and assigning onsite roles to help ensure safe and successful events
- Working in partnership with the Events Director on team coordination before, during, after every event
- Build/manage a database or list of volunteers and potential volunteers, managing and updating the core volunteer directory
- Administering the Volunteer Coordination team’s google drive folder
- Participating in the team’s slack channel discussions
- Proficiency with Eventbrite, Mailchimp, Excel, Square, and recruiting software desired but not required
- Attending chapter executive meetings (one per month)
- Attending chapter events (one per month)
- Monitors the volunteer mailbox for all Surfrider communications & checks this chapter email account and replies to emails within 2 days
- Attending Surfrider conferences

To find out more about Surfrider Vancouver, visit vancouverbc.surfrider.org.

View the full job posting on Idealist: https://www.idealist.org/en/volunteer-opportunity/4a864de6560b4c9f93f2019a49573194-volunteer-coordinator-surfrider-foundation-vancouver-chapter-vancouver

We thank you in advance for your application. Only those considered for the position will be contacted for an interview.

⭐ CALL TO ARTISTS! ⭐

Are you a local artist passionate about our oceans? Want to make a difference in protecting Vancouver's coastline?

We are currently seeking artists to participate in our first annual art auction this spring. This virtual event will bring together our community's creatives and ocean-lovers to fundraise for the Surfrider Vancouver Chapter's conservation and activism efforts. A part of the benefits will go to Surfrider Vancouver, with the rest going directly to the artist.

If you're interested in contributing, please contact [email protected] or message us directly on Facebook!

(Photo: Alexis Greene ft. Sarah Hammond Studio)