OPP sound the alarm following 10 drownings so far this season
Since there are no lifeguards on their beaches, they do make PFDs available to borrow free of charge. This service is available to visitors at 70 of its participating parks.
Article content
Ontario Parks also reminds people never to leave children unattended, especially in the water, regardless of how shallow it may be.
Article content
According to the Canadian Red Cross, 'the absence of adult supervision is a factor in most child drownings,' regardless of whether a child can swim or not.
Article content
Ontario Parks added that while water wings and inflatable tubes are great, they are not a substitute for a PFD/lifejacket and full-time adult supervision.
Article content
Wearing a lifejacket has multiple benefits if you find yourself in a water-related situation. It can pop you back up to the surface, give you time to adjust to the situation, catch your breath, and call for help.
Article content
On what is currently the Lifesaving Society's national Drowning Prevention Week (July 20-26), the organization noted in a news release that drowning claims the lives of hundreds of Canadians each year. 'Over 400 Canadians die in preventable water-related incidents annually. Even one drowning is too many,' the release said.
Article content
Article content
This year's campaign is urging people to be 'safer together.'
Article content
'This year's National Drowning Prevention Week is all about the easy ways that anyone can have a safer experience in or around the water. Safer together means you swim with someone instead of alone, and you wear a lifejacket instead of keeping it next to you in the boat. It's simple steps like these that make sure your day on the water ends happily,' said Lifesaving Society Ontario's Stephanie Bakalar.
Article content
In Ontario, 100% of drownings among children under the age of five occurred when supervision was absent or distracted.
Article content
Swimming alone accounted for 71% of drowning deaths in adults aged 65 and older, and 57% in adults aged 35 to 64.
Article content
Only 1% of drownings occur in lifeguard-supervised settings.
Article content
In boating-related fatalities, 89% of victims were not wearing a lifejacket.
Article content
Some tips include:
Article content
Actively supervise children anytime they are in or near the water.
Article content
Always swim with a buddy.
Article content
The safest place to swim is where the lifeguards are.
Article content
Lifejackets can save your life.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Vancouver Sun
2 days ago
- Vancouver Sun
Letters to The Sun: ICBC leaves accident victims high and dry
Re: Despite lifelong eye injury from crash, ICBC's no-fault rules means man gets $0 Re: Why accident victims face an uphill battle challenging ICBC decisions under no-fault insurance system The experiences of Richard Broad and Reagan Kucher-Lang (and many others) illustrate how ICBC's no-fault insurance is grossly inadequate in protecting the interest of its customers. The public is totally at the mercy of a Crown corporation that is bent on protecting its own interest instead of its clients'. Victims of car accidents like Mr. Broad and Mr. Kucher-Lang are left high and dry at the time when they most need support. As I have opined before, ICBC is a blatant conflict of interest and its insurance is not worth the paper it's written on. A daily roundup of Opinion pieces from the Sun and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Informed Opinion will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Dr. Frederick Kwong, Vancouver Re: How videos are helping dementia patients at Metro Vancouver care homes remember daily routines I had to shake my head as I have a sister in long-term care. I'm a regular visitor three to four times weekly. I see patients regularly sitting in front of their meals — with dementia, patients lack initiative, and unless a real person is there to prompt them, not a video, the food and fluids are very often left. I see families come by and think this is an isolated incident, but it tells me they know little about dementia. There is nothing that can replace a care aide actively involved to coax our loved ones at the meal time. Instead of videos, why aren't we baby boomers — who have always had high expectations — fighting for more staff in care facilities? Visit more often to see that your loved one is emotionally supported — only family can do this as staff are too busy doing basic physical care. I appreciate all the care aides out there, and other allied staff, but the system falls short. Let's all be part of the solution. Maureen Roper, North Vancouver Re: Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim wants review of industrial lands designation of five major areas Where do urban mayors such as Ken Sim think the industrial and light industrial land uses will relocate if they zone them out of their cities to be replaced by residential uses? This results is a domino effect and places pressure on the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) as industrial land users seek to replace this land. The short-sighted nature of these kinds of decisions do not serve the broader community well. Shaundehl Runka, Gibsons Re: Canadians proud to be considered 'nasty' in defending sovereignty, David Eby says I find it precious that U.S. ambassador Pete Hoekstra and his masters think that Canadians are 'mean and nasty' to deal with. This lame attempt at gaslighting Canadians will not win Hoekstra any leverage. It is perfectly clear to most of us that U.S. President Donald Trump's stated plan is to wage economic warfare on Canada with the goal of weakening our economy and annexing us. America may grow rich from this piracy, for a while, but it will remain morally bankrupt. Glen Taylor, Coquitlam Canada gained worldwide respect due to our soldiers' courage during two world wars, and now Canucks' moxie is being tested as they won't be bullied or belittled. The tariff war seems intent on destroying our economy, while we're being called mean and nasty for boycotting U.S. booze and travel. Are we supposed to roll over and play dead? Canadians recognized for their low-key behaviour can over time become 'nasty' standing up to those who treat them unfairly, eh. Peter Middlemore Sr., Windsor Canada is a country that stands for human rights, yet we are standing by as Gaza starves. A man-made famine, caused by a deliberate aid blockade, has pushed almost all of the population to the brink of death. Our statements of concern are meaningless without action. As Canadians, we must demand more — immediate food airdrops, UN-protected aid corridors, and sanctions on those responsible. This is a test of our nation's character. We must not fail it. Laith Sarhan, Vancouver Letters to the editor should be sent to sunletters@
3 days ago
Should the government assist low-income people with air conditioning?
Christena Abbott is a senior living in a highrise apartment in Toronto. On the day we spoke, the temperature was 31 C. It was the first of what ended up being a three-day heat wave. I have asthma, I'm diabetic, on insulin. I have six pinched nerves … and I cannot take heat at all, she said. Fortunately for Abbott, she has a portable air conditioner. I can't live without it, she added. But not everyone is as fortunate as Abbott. Low-income families living in multi-unit dwellings face the greatest challenges during heat waves and are by far the most affected. A 2024 study (new window) published in the journal Environmental Research: Health found that those living on income assistance were 2.4 times more likely to die during a heat wave during the B.C. heat dome of 2021. Ninety-eight per cent of the people who died during that event died indoors, said Jacqueline Wilson, counsel at the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA). When you look at those findings, the lesson from that is tackling the indoor air temperature because that was found to be the way that people were most at risk. As fossil fuels continue to be released into the atmosphere, and the climate continues to warm, Canadians will be faced with more frequent and intense heat waves (new window) , but having access to air conditioning isn't equitable. Access to cooling … we've been thinking of it as a luxury…. But now our heat waves are becoming hotter, longer, more frequent, said Caroline Metz, managing director for climate resilience and health at Intact Centre for Climate Adaptation. They're happening earlier in the season, so people aren't quite ready, and they're happening in places that haven't had heat. There's been a push for a maximum temperature bylaw for buildings in cities such as Toronto (new window) , Ottawa (new window) and Hamilton (new window) . But if something like that is put into place, who would pay for it? I think we do need either a federal program or provincial programs, Metz said. We want to establish providing financial support for cooling assistance. Theresa McClenaghan, executive director and counsel at CELA said studies show that heat is the biggest threat to life (new window) from climate change, particularly for those in under-resourced communities. And, she notes, climate change doesn't respect borders. It's a five-alarm fire, right? It's a major, major emergency. And that means all the jurisdictions have the ability to act and should act, and they should act in concert, but they shouldn't wait for each other, said McClenaghan. There are some programs at the municipal and provincial level across the country, but they target specific groups. Most recently, Toronto started a program for seniors (new window) , and B.C. has a program (new window) where people can receive a free portable air conditioner, but only if they are clients of a Home Care Program (new window) or Mental Health Substance Use Program (new window) and they've received a recommendation letter. But there's no guarantee someone will receive a unit, as there is a limit on how many air conditioners are available. If maximum temperature limits are enacted across the country, buildings would have to be retrofitted, but, as many buildings in cities were built in the 1960s and '70s, they may not be able to withstand a power-load increase. Metz suggested that perhaps the first step would be for municipalities to have an electrical evaluation to assess their capabilities. Remember Christena Abbott? Well, she's also a leader at ACORN Canada (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), a community union of low- and moderate-income people advocating for better rights. And that building she's living in? It was built in 1967. But this year, her building owner, WoodGreen — Toronto's largest non-municipal affordable housing provider — is retrofitting the building with new, more efficient windows. Next year? Heat pumps that will provide cooling to all of its residents. Ultimately, WoodGreen is looking for a zero-carbon building certification. And they have assured residents there will be no rent increase. The project received funding from the local municipal government and utility, but was mostly funded with federal housing grants and loans. Wilson says federal involvement is needed to ensure cooling for low-income tenants is affordable, so that the most vulnerable people are getting the cooling and they're not having this cost burden added to budgets that can't sustain it.
Cision Canada
3 days ago
- Cision Canada
Shoppers Foundation for Women's Health launches in-store period product donation drive to promote menstrual equity
Support local women's shelters and food banks via the Pad It Forward campaign TORONTO, July 25, 2025 /CNW/ - Shoppers Foundation for Women's Health™ is inviting Canadians to join them in their fight for menstrual equity by donating pads, tampons, period underwear and menstrual cups at their local Shoppers Drug Mart® store as part of its new Pad it forward donation campaign. "We know that 17% of people in Canada have experienced period poverty 1 – unable to access or afford the menstrual products they need. And this number jumps to 1 in 4 among people living in lower-income households," says Paulette Minard, Director of Community Investment and Shoppers Foundation for Women's Health™. "Together with Shoppers Drug Mart, the Foundation is taking action to change this reality, helping to make period products more accessible to those who need them." Since 2022, Shoppers Foundation for Women's Health™ has committed to donate more than 69 million period care products collectively to schools and community organizations in Ontario, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Saskatchewan so people who menstruate can access necessary care while continuing to attend class and other activities. In this same time period, the Foundation has donated more than $2.6 million in funds and supplies to expand access to menstrual products and care through partners like Moon Time Connections – Canada's only national Indigenous-led period equity organization. "Moon Time Connections is incredibly grateful to Shoppers Foundation for Women's Health™ for partnering with us to ensure we can continue reaching remote and northern Indigenous menstruators with much-needed support," shares Nicole White, Founder of Moon Time Connections (MTC). "Funding provided by the Foundation to MTC allows us to continue offering our Moon Time Facilitator training program, which Indigenizes menstrual education and empowers community with vital and culturally relevant resources, while also supporting with product distribution." Donations bins for this in-store program will be visible near the checkout area in stores nationwide, with all donated products going to one of more than 300 local women's shelters or community food banks. Donations will be accepted from July 26 to August 8. Visit your local Shoppers Drug Mart® or Pharmaprix® store to donate and learn more about Pad it forward. About Shoppers Foundation for Women's Health™ Shoppers Foundation for Women's Health™ – the charitable arm of Shoppers Drug Mart® – is committed to helping Canadian women lead healthier lives, by making care more equitable and accessible. The Foundation will invest $50M by 2026 to address some of the most pressing health inequities facing women, including lack of representation in health research, barriers to accessing mental healthcare, and the urgent consequences women disproportionately face due to poverty and domestic violence. Learn more at About Shoppers Drug Mart Inc. Shoppers Drug Mart Inc. is one of the most recognized and trusted names in Canadian retailing. The company is the licensor of full-service retail drug stores operating under the name Shoppers Drug Mart® (Pharmaprix® in Québec). With more than 1,350 Shoppers Drug Mart® and Pharmaprix® stores operating in prime locations in each province and two territories, the company is one of the most convenient retailers in Canada. Shoppers Drug Mart® is an independent operating division of Loblaw Companies Limited.
