Today is World Oceans Day. World Oceans Day is observed annually on June 8 to celebrate the global ocean, raise awareness about its critical role in sustaining life, and inspire collaborative action to protect marine environments. The concept was originally proposed by Canada in 1992 and officially recognized by the United Nations in 2009.
This past Saturday, Lismore District One Development Society, the Canadian Marine Environment Protection Society and youthLEADarts sponsored Lismore and Big Island beach clean-ups for World Oceans Day 2026 in Nova Scotia.
This is the 3rd annual clean-up for Lismore and Big Island. Several families and community members joined us on a beautiful morning on the Northumberland Strait’s shoreline. Youth members from youthLEADarts practiced their taking action skills and drive as they cleaned up over 1,000 lobster bands and a variety of plastics and styrofoam from the shoreline. Everything from old chairs to several old lobster traps were collected.
Actions such as these demonstrate to community through experience how impacted our marine environment is and highlight our responsibility to keep our environment in as good a natural state as possible.
Thanks to LEAD volunteers Melanie McDuff for her great ocean themed cupcakes, and to Sienna former LEAD alumni, and Shelley MacDonald for their help organizing materials for the clean-up.
Roy Mulder, a teaching artist with youthLEADarts represented the Canadian Marine Environment Protection Society and District One Development Society.