PRESS RELEASE: A GREENER FUTURE BRINGS ‘LOVE YOUR LAKES’ BACK TO CLEAN UP ONTARIO SHORELINES
PRESS RELEASE
April 22, 2026
Community clean-up series returns to protect the Great Lakes - volunteer registration now open
(Toronto, ON) April 22, 2026 - Environmental non-profit organization, A Greener Future, announces today the return of its flagship shoreline cleanup initiative, Love Your Lakes, mobilizing volunteers from communities across Ontario to protect one of the world’s most vital freshwater systems. Love Your Lakes will bring 300+ waterfront clean-ups to communities across Ontario, kicking off on May 2nd, 2026, in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Now in its ninth year, the annual program transforms local clean-ups into a larger environmental effort - removing litter while collecting critical data that helps identify and prevent pollution at its source.
Over 300+ Public Shoreline Cleanups
The public is invited to get involved by registering for a clean-up in their area. Following the kick-off clean-up in Niagara-on-the-Lake, the tour will continue east over the course of the summer, making stops across Hamilton, Burlington, Mississauga, Toronto, and Durham Region and will commence in Toronto on August 29, 2026.
“When you’re out there, you see firsthand just how much litter is actually along our shorelines,” said Rochelle Byrne, Founder and Executive Director, A Greener Future. “Love Your Lakes gives people a way to take action in that moment, but it also helps us track what we’re finding so we can address the problem at its source.”
In 2025 alone, volunteers removed more than 600,000 pieces of litterfrom Ontario shorelines - ranging from cigarette butts and food packaging to unexpected and hazardous items like clothing, sports equipment, and syringes. Each item collected contributes to a growing dataset that helps drive environmental awareness, research, and policy change.
Volunteer Powered: Get Involved
Join volunteers removing litter, collecting critical environmental data, and protecting 20% of the world's freshwater, one shoreline at a time. To get involved, please register for a clean-up near you here.
ABOUT A GREENER FUTURE
Founded in 2014, A Greener Future is a Canadian non-profit organization founded by Rochelle whose mission is to work within local communities to promote environmental protection through organized litter cleanups, educational programs, and events. A Greener Future is committed to creating a clean, healthy environment for future generations. To learn more, visit A Greener Future at www.agreenerfuture.ca, on Instagram and Facebook.
MEDIA ASSETS:
Click here for high res images of previous Love Your Lakes clean-ups
MEDIA CONTACT:
For more information or to schedule an interview with Rochelle Byrne, please contact:
Ashley Seale
Magic Hour PR
hello@magichourpr.co