It is Canada Safe Boating Awareness Week
Posted May 23, 2021 11:00:00 AM.
With the Victoria Day long weekend in full swing, and many taking to lakes and rivers across the province, the OPP wants to make sure Ontarians are being safe about it.
It is Canada Safe Boating Awareness Week, and comes as provincial police look to lower the number of boating and paddling fatalities from a year ago.
There were 32 such deaths in 2020, marking a 12-year high on OPP-patrolled waterways.
OPP Sergeant Dave Moffatt said the majority were on smaller vessels, such as kayaks, canoes and pontoon boats.
The more staggering stat is that of the 32 deaths, 91 per cent of them were not wearing a personal floatation device.
The OPP is out with a list of tips to keep in mind:
- Wear a Canadian-approved lifejacket or personal floatation device (PFD)
- Check the weather conditions/forecast (paddlers should always stick close to shore)
- Boat/paddle sober and drug-free
- Tell people where you are going
- Be cold water aware
- Be mindful of your vessel's capabilities when deciding where to go boating
- Take a boating course
