The Town of Cobourg recognized Blue Dot Northumberland’s partnership at this year’s Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup during the December 17 Regular Council Meeting.
Blue Dot Northumberland played a key role in the success of the event by recruiting volunteers through its strong network of environmental supporters, assisting with the selection and coordination of four cleanup sites, and providing on-the-ground support to volunteers and data collection efforts on the day of the cleanup.
As the Town’s official community partner, Blue Dot Northumberland received $3,000 in partnership funding from the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (Cities Initiative).
“I am pleased to have the opportunity to publicly thank Blue Dot Northumberland for their incredible support during the inaugural Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup,” said Mayor Lucas Cleveland. “I am also grateful to the Cities Initiative for providing this partnership funding, which helped us make an even greater positive environmental impact in our community.”
The inaugural Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup took place on Sunday, September 28, 2025. The Town of Cobourg proudly joined five other Ontario communities that day and thanks to the dedication of local volunteers, more than 1,200 pieces of plastic and other litter were removed from Cobourg’s shoreline.
Hosted by the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative and funded by the Government of Ontario, the event took place on World Rivers Day, highlighting the importance of protecting and maintaining healthy waterways.
About the Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative partnered with six communities across Ontario on the first ever Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup. This special event, funded by the Ontario Government, brought together more than 415 volunteers to collect and catalogue 200 kilograms of litter at beaches, parks, and other shoreline areas along Lakes Superior, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, along with the St. Lawrence River. The Cities Initiative is proud to partner with Thunder Bay, Chatham-Kent, Owen Sound, Collingwood, Cobourg, and Kingston to unite people from across the province who are passionate about keeping our lakes clean. Visit the Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup webpage to learn more.
About the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative is a multinational coalition of municipal and
Indigenous government executives representing communities in the Great Lakes and St.
Lawrence River Region who are working to promote economic prosperity in our communities
and protect our fresh water for the benefit of current and future generations.
With more than 400 communities represented, the Cities Initiative is leading the way in advancing the
environmental, economic, and social health of the region by addressing issues impacting its residents.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
