Trash Panda Brigade

08/05/2026

Being nominated for the inaugural paddlebc awards has been a time to pause and reflect upon our journey through the years. So many incredible memories created and good work done. But the story of the Trash Panda Brigade is really one of friendship. From our very beginnings we were a group of friends, all credentialed paddling instructors and guides who liked to train together across multiple paddling disciplines and very soon realizing that the ocean trash we salvaged added to the intensity of our workouts and inevitably our offshore adventures became trash “hunting trips”. We couldn’t keep all the fun to ourselves and soon were removing the barriers for others to join our paddling stewardship adventures - especially new paddlers and children. And all along the way we kept adding helpers - all of which have become our friends!! Here’s a little review of our early days and some of the many friends we have made along the way!

07/27/2026

We are very honoured to be nominated for the inaugural Paddle BC awards!

The Paddle BC Awards recognize outstanding contributions across five key areas that reflect the values of BC’s paddling community. Each category helps showcase the diverse ways people and organizations are helping to shape paddle culture throughout BC.

It's not too late to submit a nomination! https://paddlebc.ca/paddle-bc-awards/

We congratulate all of the nominees and thank them for all they are doing to showcase paddling in British Columbia! We are very grateful to be in such inspiring company!

05/07/2026

Nice memory shared by Ocean Week Canada - Pacifica Paddle Sports with the Trash Panda Brigade and friends post-cleanup of the Southern Gulf Islands last year.
Looking forward to creating some new memories again for Ocean Week Victoria 2026 on May 30!

Each year, people across the country host events that celebrate our connection to the ocean and local waterways. Whether you’re inland or coastal, urban or rural—everyone’s invited.

🎉 Host an event
📍 Add it to the Event Portal
📚 Use our onboarding toolkit to get started

Let’s grow this national movement of ocean connection together.

🔗 Learn more: oceanweek.ca

📩 Questions? Reach out: [email protected]

—

Organiser un événement!

La Semaine de l’océan Canada revient du 1er au 8 juin 2026 - et vous êtes invité·e à y participer.

Chaque année, des gens à travers le pays organisent des événements pour célébrer notre lien avec l’océan et les voies navigables locales. Que vous soyez en région côtière ou intérieure, en milieu urbain ou rural - tout le monde est le bienvenu.

🎉 Organisez un événement
📍 Ajoutez-le au Portail des événements
📚 Utilisez notre nouvelle trousse d’accueil pour bien démarrer

Faisons grandir ensemble ce mouvement national de connexion et d’engagement envers l’océan.

🔗 En savoir plus : semainedelocean.ca

📩 Questions ? Contactez : [email protected]

ConnexionOcéan BleuCanada Cêlébrerlocéan

05/06/2026

Ocean Week Victoria 2026 kicks off at Esquimalt Gorge Park May 30 and the Trash Panda Brigade will be there leading an ocean cleanup. Details to sign up coming soon!

Splish Splash, we're throwing an Ocean Bash 🌊

GWAS and are teaming up once again to bring you the Gorge Splashtacular Ocean Festival, the kickoff event to Ocean Week Victoria!

Join us at the Gorge Waterway Nature House on Saturday May 30th from 12:00 - 4:00pm for ocean inspired crafts, marine touch tanks, a garbage clean by the Trash Panda Brigade, a live ocean painting demonstration and ocean-themed activities from your favourite local organizations.

We hope to sea you there 🐠

09/01/2025

"All it takes is one person to do the right thing. And if it bothers you enough, that person is you. Something can always be done. You can make a difference".
- Mel Robbins, The Let Them Theory

08/02/2025

Excited to see BC Marine Trails Network new 'Marine Debris' layer added to their already fabulous mapping tool;
AND even more thrilled to see some of our site reports among the first mapped here!

You too can participate in this important recreation-led stewardship:

If you spot debris while out paddling:
- Pack it out if you can do so safely
- Store it above the high tide line if you must leave it behind
- Snap a photo
- Submit a site report https://www.bcmarinetrails.org/reporting/

Let’s keep the coast clean together! 💙

07/16/2025

Thank-you for the nice words Township of Esquimalt!

June 24, 2025Type(s)NewsEarlier this June, some dedicated volunteers made a big impact on one of the region's most unique areas.To celebrate Oceans Week, volunteers from the “Trash Panda Brigade”—a group of local Paddle Canada instructors (SUP, kayak and canoe) who routinely do ocean cleanups ...

06/29/2025

Thank-you BC Marine Trails Network!

And a big thank-you to our friends who made these days so successful - Victoria Canoe and Kayak Club, Tillicum Centre, Pacifica Paddle Social Paddlers, Seaquaria Ocean Education, Gorge Waterway Nature House, Peninsula Streams Society, Marine Coursac, Township of Esquimalt and Island Junk Removal Solutions Ltd !

06/16/2025

Some very busy Trash Pandas this week on the occasion of Ocean Week 2025 showing our love for our community, our favourite paddling places and as always, the Salish Sea! 💙