Image: Tourism Chilliwack / On Saturday, June 24, the public is invited to meet Chilliwack resident and passionate environmental steward Steve Clegg, as he and a team of trained divers clean up Cultus Lake, during the “Meet the Protectors: Restoring Cultus Lake’s Hidden Depths” event organized by Tourism Chilliwack. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. near main beach at Cultus Lake.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Divers to clean up Cultus Lake June 24

Trained divers to clean up Cultus Lake June 24 during Cultus Lake Day festivities

Jun 6, 2023 | 11:50 AM

CULTUS LAKE — During the hundreds of dives he has undertaken at Cultus Lake, Chilliwack resident and skilled free diver Steve Clegg has uncovered everything you could possibly imagine from the bottom of the popular recreational lake.

That includes tires, phones, drones, wedding rings, aluminum cans, glass bottles, footwear, cowboy boots, car parts, and much more.

Which is why Clegg, a passionate environmental steward, will join forces with fellow trained divers for what Tourism Chilliwack is calling “Meet the Protectors: Restoring Cultus Lake’s Hidden Depths” on Saturday, June 24 at main beach during Cultus Lake Day festivities.

The public is invited to meet Clegg and a team of trained divers who excel and thrive at removing debris from this critical body of water. The event will be held in conjunction with Cultus Lake Day, a full day of fun and activities, organized by the Cultus Lake Park Board.

According to Tourism Chilliwack, Clegg has carried out hundreds of dives in Cultus Lake, resulting in an impressive removal of all kinds of debris. During the “Meet the Protectors” event, Clegg will be joined by seven of his diver friends, plus a team of trained volunteers who will sort the debris on shore for safe disposal and recycling.

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Tourism Chilliwack says the purpose of the event is to celebrate the work that Clegg and the other divers do in cleaning garbage from the lake, as well as promoting sustainable and responsible tourism through Tourism Chilliwack’s ‘Protecting This Gift’ initiative — a call to embrace the beauty of Chilliwack while treading lightly upon its landscapes, and inspiring and educating visitors to become active participants in the ongoing efforts to protect and promote the long-term sustainability of the area.

Attendees are asked to look for the Tourism Ch’illiwack visitor information booth (located next to Main Beach Boat Rentals) at the event for more details on the ‘Protecting This Gift’ initiative.

In addition to his Cultus Lake cleanup efforts, Clegg volunteers with many environmental and safety organizations, including Chilliwack Search and Rescue, the Fraser Valley Conservancy, the Fraser Valley Watershed Coalition, and the Fraser Valley Invasive Species Society.

“You don’t need to be an environmentalist to make a difference. You just need to be someone who cares,” Clegg said. “If you spend time getting to know this place, you’ll find fascinating things and grow a passion for it. The more you learn about it, the more you’re connected to it and the more you’ll feel protective of it.”

Meet the Protectors runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Main Beach (next to Main Beach boat rentals), 103 First Avenue in Cultus Lake. Find out more details here: Facebook.