Woodtone and Fraser Riverkeeper Host Clean up in at Pegleg Bar in Chilliwack, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm Sunday, April 19, 2009

Chilliwack, BC (April XX)- Woodtone and Fraser Riverkeeper , in partnership with the City of Chilliwack and other friends of the Fraser River will clean up Pegleg Gravel Bar in Chilliwack on Sunday, April 19th, the Sunday before Earth Day, from 1 p.m.- 4 p.m.

This event is a great opportunity to do your part for Earth Day. Woodtone and Fraser Riverkeeper invite their fellow Chilliwack and Fraser Valley businesses as well as everyone who enjoys the river to come and join us at Pegleg Bar in Chilliwack. Water, snacks, and all equipment, including gloves and sanitizer, will be provided at the staging areas located at Peg Leg Bar. Volunteers should come prepared for the weather and terrain.

Last year’s Earth Day Pegleg Cleanup, which was the first effort of its kind on the popular fishing and recreation gravel bar and resulted in approximately four tons of waste materials recovered (two for landfill and two for recycling). Woodtone’s enthusiasm has carried on as they take on this year’s cleanup with Fraser Riverkeeper and as many as 100 employees, friends, volunteers and family expected to participate.

The Fraser River is central to BC's history and cultural identity. Fraser Riverkeeper is a spokesperson for the Fraser River and its tributaries, building a voice for river restoration, monitoring the river and holding polluters accountable when necessary. “People are frustrated by the inactivity, by the negligence, by the indifference,” said Doug Chapman, who patrols the Fraser River as one of the 9 Waterkeepers now active in Canada. “These waters belong to all of us. It’s about quality of life. About doing something positive.”

Woodtone is a manufacturer of dependable exterior building materials, making products that are sustainable and add significant curb appeal to new home construction. Woodtone’s Community Builders Team is tasked with contributing to the communities in which we live and operate, and the Pegleg cleanup was a natural fit. “When we take customers from out of the area out on the river, they are always in awe of its natural beauty”, said Chris Young, Co-CEO of Woodtone. “So it’s a no brainer to ask our employees to volunteer their time to help keep it that way.” In fact, many Woodtone employees live nearby the Fraser and enjoy the many activities it offers in their personal time as well.

The event will be focused on beautifying and restoring the riverbed at Pegleg Bar while increasing community participation in environmental stewardship and awareness of the significance of these gravel bars to local flora and fauna as well to local residents and community groups who appreciate their value. Pegleg Bar provides easy access to the Fraser River for recreation fishing, and is one of the more popular and productive bars for fishing without a boat. Bar fishing the Fraser River is a popular way to appreciate the Fraser River and all it has to offer, providing prime gathering spots for socializing in the great outdoors. Unfortunately, such easy access to the “Mighty” Fraser River has resulted in the accumulation of various types of garbage, from aluminium cans to couches.

If you are interested in joining us for the cleanup, please contact Mary Woodbury at Fraser Riverkeeper via email at mary@fraserriverkeeper.ca or phone 778-737-4422.

Directions from Highway 1:

• Take Vedder Road exit, go North. Vedder Road turns into Yale Road West.
• Stay on Yale Road West, go through downtown Chilliwack
• Left at Menzies Street
• Right at Hope River Road
• Left at McSween Road
• Right to stay on McSween Road
• Left to stay on McSween Road
• Last part of the road is a dirt track and there will be people showing you where to go.

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