Northumberland residents preparing to head onto local waterways this Victoria Day long weekend are being reminded to make safety a priority as Safe Boating Awareness Week begins Saturday.
The annual campaign runs May 16 through 22 and focuses on reducing preventable boating injuries and deaths across Ontario waterways.
With destinations including Lake Ontario, Rice Lake and the Trent Severn Waterway expected to attract heavy boating and paddling traffic, Northumberland OPP is encouraging residents to wear lifejackets, check weather conditions and ensure vessels are properly equipped before heading out.
According to the OPP, 249 people died in OPP investigated marine incidents between 2016 and 2025.
Police say 205 of those victims, roughly 83 per cent, were either not wearing or improperly wearing a lifejacket or personal flotation device at the time of the incident.
More than 100 of the deaths involved people using human powered watercraft such as kayaks, canoes and paddleboards.
The OPP says capsized vessels and people falling overboard remain the leading causes in fatal marine incidents.
Other contributing factors include alcohol or drug impairment, operator inexperience, hazardous waterways and poor weather conditions.
During Safe Boating Awareness Week, OPP marine officers will conduct patrols and enforcement efforts while promoting safe boating practices across the province.
Police are also reminding boaters to familiarize themselves with Canada’s Safe Boating Guide and the “1-10-1” cold water survival principle, which explains how quickly cold water can impact breathing, movement and survival after unexpectedly entering the water.
The OPP says wearing a properly fitted lifejacket remains the single most important step boaters and paddlers can take to improve survival during a marine emergency.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
