Plastic and other marine pollution is killing our ocean. It is estimated that 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris are floating in our oceans. One million sea birds and 100,000 marine mammals are killed by ocean plastic. Each year 500 billion plastic bags are used around the world.
For most of us this damage is far away and invisible. Without a personal connection to our oceans, it’s difficult for us to feel inspired to save them. As famed French explorer, conservationist, filmmaker, scientist, Jacques Yves Cousteau, who studied the sea and all forms of life in water, once said, “People protect what they love.” Ocean Ambassadors Canada is turning our attention to the massive challenge of cleaning up our oceans and the possible solutions.
The growing community of Ocean Ambassadors Canada is changing the way we consume single use plastic in our communities. It is working with forward thinking communities, local businesses and organizations to create plastic reduction initiatives that cater for our changing needs. These impactful initiatives have to power to bring communities together around an issue that impacts us all.
Alison Wood is an ocean lover. She grew up spending summers on Tsawwassen Beach swimming, rowing and sailing. She sailed competitively through her high school and university years and is now an avid stand-up paddler. She is the first woman to paddle across the Salish Sea from Nanaimo to Vancouver and has raced in channel crossings in Maui and Fiji. A lifelong educator, her experience includes developing and teaching continuing education courses for BC paramedics, developing curriculum and courses for Sail Canada, and developing ski instructor programs for Mt. Seymour.“The inspiration for Ocean Ambassadors came while on my stand-up paddle board in Deep Cove. The incredible beauty of the ocean was regularly contrasted with garbage floating in the water. We need to inspire people to protect our oceans, and to do that we need to get people to the beach and onto the water to experience its magic.”
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Alicia Gowan and Alison Wood are thanked by Graham Witcher and President Denis Denischuk | |