The City of Kamloops will be hosting a community beach clean up next month.
Earlier this week, city council was presented with Clean the Beach Day, which will be held on Sunday, April 21, which is the closest weekend day to Earth Day on April 22.
There will be a kick-off event at Riverside Park, which will include safe cleanup instructions, provision of required cleanup equipment and personal protective equipment, cleanup location directions, educational tables and materials, a staff report said.
Cleaning will happen in public, city-owned riverbank areas along the Rivers Trail near Riverside Park.
There will be additional events like music and other family-friendly activities.
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Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc will also be engaged to provide historical context and information on the local importance of salmon.
According to the staff report, the city will be hosting a wrap-up at Riverside Park including a thank you meal for volunteers at the end of the event.
Ty Helgason, the city’s social and community development supervisor, told council that the program was originally requested in September 2023.
He told council that they chose this type of event rather than a program like an adopt-a-road program due to safety concerns and risks to wildlife and the environment.
Council was also told the city staff will be engaging the social agencies that participate in the Clean Team supportive employment program to do a “pre-sweep” of the designated areas to check for debris like sharps or other drug paraphernalia.
Coun. Nancy Bepple called the initiative a good first step.
Other councillors agreed.
Coun. Karpuk said he saw it as an educational opportunity for the entire community while engaging residents to take care of the areas near the river.
