THE TORONTO ZOO PRESENTS
WASHED ASHORE – ART TO SAVE THE SEA

TORONTO, ON, Thursday, May 16, 2019: The Toronto Zoo today launched a new temporary exhibit called Washed Ashore – Art to Save the Sea. This unique exhibit educates about the negative and devastating effects of plastic pollution and aims to spark positive changes in consumer habits. This aesthetically powerful art installation is built completely from plastics found in oceans and waterways around the world. Each year, sea birds, whales, seals, sea turtles and other marine life die after ingesting plastic or becoming entangled in the plastic debris and approximately 300 million pounds of plastic is produced globally each year and less than 10 percent of that is recycled. Washed Ashore, with its 10 larger-than life sculptures, will inspire Zoo guests to make a difference in their day-to-day lives.

Present at the launch event were: The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, The Honourable Rod Phillips, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Dolf DeJong, Chief Executive Officer Toronto Zoo, Councillors Paul Ainslie, Chair, Board of Management of the Toronto Zoo and  Jennifer McKelvie, Ward 25 Scarborough-Rouge Park, Jo-Anne St. Godard, Executive Director Recycling Council of Ontario and Angela Haseltine Pozzi, Founder & Artistic Director, Washed Ashore – Art To Save The Sea.

The Toronto Zoo is also excited to announce the Washed Ashore exhibit is being supported by 10,000 Changes. 10,000 Changes is a multi-platform plastics engagement program that will help Canada move toward zero plastic waste by driving meaningful reductions in the plastic that’s produced, used, and discarded by Canadians. Fully launched in June 2019, 10,000 Changes will bring together the policy strength and subject matter expertise of Recycling Council of Ontario, and the communications power and reach of the Canadian Geographic, to educate and inspire Canadian individuals, governments, businesses, and classrooms to change the way they produce, consume, and dispose of plastics.

“It is sad and terrifying to consider garbage patches the size of the Province of Quebec in our oceans,” says Dolf DeJong, CEO Toronto Zoo. “Toronto Zoo is committed to taking actions on plastics and Washed Ashore is a powerful way to help guests understand the scope of the single-use plastics problem our environment is facing and the steps that can be taken to help address the problem.”

“Education and awareness are fundamental to making positive changes to our consumption behaviour and patterns,” says Jo-Anne St. Godard, Executive Director, Recycling Council of Ontario. “Washed Ashore is a tremendous visual and emotional learning opportunity that directly relates to the impacts of plastic pollution on the environment and wildlife, and like 10,000 Changes, will motivate us to rethink plastics.”

Inspired by Washed Ashore, Toronto Zoo’s Exhibit Design staff designed and built their own sculpture of a polar bear, named “Poly”, created entirely from plastic waste gathered from local shoreline cleanups, the Toronto Zoo’s own site, and local supporting organizations; plastics that would otherwise have ended up in a landfill.

Although Washed Ashore’s plastics have been collected predominantly from oceans, the messaging of making our local waterways clean from plastics is equally as important. Toronto Zoo’s works to design and deliver impactful conservation-focused research, restoration, and outreach programs that highlights the importance of saving Canada’s sensitive wetland species and their habitats. A top priority for the Zoo is to encourage public awareness and participation in protecting local biodiversity through citizen science and engagement. Together, with the help and commitment from our guests, we can provide a safe and cleaner environment for these fascinating native creatures.  

Toronto Zoo’s Plastics Statement
& Actions for 2019


To learn more about why Toronto Zoo is concerned about plastics,

Toronto Zoo Presents
Washed Ashore – Art To Save The Sea


To learn more about Toronto Zoo’s Summer Exhibit,

About Washed Ashore

Washed Ashore is a non-profit organization whose mission is to use the arts to educate a global audience about plastic pollution in oceans and waterways and to spark positive changes in consumer habits. Founder and Director, Angela Haseltine Pozzi, began this project in 2010 with the help of interns, apprentices, a small dedicated staff and thousands of community volunteers. Together, under Angela’s direction, they began creating artwork made completely from garbage collected from beaches. Now, over 18 tons of marine debris has been removed from beaches and processed into 60 works of art which travel the country to raise awareness and teach about the tragedy facing sea life in the world’s oceans.

About Toronto Zoo

The Toronto Zoo is Canada’s premier zoo and a national leader in saving wildlife to ensure the rich diversity of nature for future generations. More than a tourist attraction, the Toronto Zoo boasts a number of leading programs for helping wildlife and their natural habitats – from species reintroduction to reproductive research. A world-class educational centre for people of all ages, the Toronto Zoo is open every day except December 25 and attracts approximately 1.3 million visitors each year. Toronto Zoo is accredited by CAZA (Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums) and AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums). Look for these logos whenever you visit a Canadian zoo as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. For more information, visit caza.ca and aza.org.

Toronto Zoo Media Contacts:

Katie Gray, Supervisor of Public Relations and Events
[email protected] or #416-392-5941

Amanda Chambers, Public Relations and Events Associate
[email protected] or #416-392-5974