OPP will be on the waters this weekend as Boater Safety Week begins.
Paddlers have accounted for nearly half of all boating deaths in Ontario waters over the last five years say OPP, adding that 56 paddlers are among the 131 people who died in OPP patrolled waters between 2020 and 2024…34 were canoeists, 17 kayakers and 5 were using a stand up paddle board.
Alcohol/drug impairment, hazardous waterways and operator inexperience are the top contributing factors in marine deaths say OPP.
They are also urging anyone who goes out on the water this summer to wear a lifejacket.
Bancroft OPP Seargant Trevor Pitts says OPP will be out on the waters in the area, not just on the bigger lakes but the smaller ones as well.
“We’re going to be looking for the alcohol related offenses but we also want to see people wearing the life jackets, we want to see the boater safety cards, and we’re ensuring that, in any type of a vessel that you’re on, if it needs to have a life jacket, you’ve got your life jackets on board.”
Boater safety week goes until May 23 .
With Files from Andrew Mendler
