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Winnipeg Free Press
11-07-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
8 Manitobans honoured for water rescue heroism
Christian Clavelle was dozing off in a beach chair at St. Malo Provincial Park when he heard a shout seeking someone who knew CPR. Jolted awake, he rushed down to the beach to find a three-year-old boy who had wandered into the water, face down and not breathing. The 44-year-old from Winnipeg, who teaches first aid and was on a family camping trip with his wife and two children, began performing chest compressions. Quickly, the boy started coughing up water, regaining colour in his face and breathing again. From left, Ana Bautista, John Joseph Bautista and their son Andres receive a gift from Christian Clavelle, who saved Andres from drowning. (Matthew Frank / Free Press) When Clavelle saw those signs, he raised a thumbs-up to the child's panicking parents and the group that had gathered on the sand. On Thursday, Clavelle and eight other Manitobans (including two park officers at St. Malo that day) received Rescue Commendation Awards from Lifesaving Society Manitoba and Lt.-Gov. Anita Neville for their bravery and quick-thinking during water rescues around the province in 2024. The annual ceremony was held at Government House on the Manitoba Legislative Building's grounds. During the the events of that summer day on Aug. 3, Clavelle said he kept thinking about his own family and how he'd feel as the parent of the injured child. 'I remembered how important my own kids were to me,' he said. 'Being able to save and carry the child of parents that could've lost their only child felt phenomenal.' Clavelle has been first-aid instructor for 23 years and is the president of Canadian First-Aid Training. He said he's taught thousands of people to do CPR, but that incident was the first time he has personally used it to revive someone. Because of his training, he was 'dialed in' and confident in the moment. Christian Clavelle (left) hands a gift to Andres Bautista, who Clavelle saved from drowning at St. Malo Provincial Park on August 3, 2024. (Matthew Frank / Free Press) 'I've been talking about it for years, like, this is what I do for a living,' Clavelle told the Free Press. 'I was fortunate, and it's not like that for everybody. But in this case, it was just right place, right time.' The boy's family later reached out to reconnect, Clavelle said. He added it feels lucky to have that type of closure, because he said not many first responders have such an opportunity. The Thursday afternoon ceremony marked the second honour Clavelle has received for the St. Malo rescue. In November, he was presented the Canadian Red Cross Rescuer Award. Drownings are the third-leading cause of accidental death in Manitoba, according to Lifesaving Society Manitoba. An average of 21 people drown in the province each year, with 72 per cent occurring between May and September, as per 2017-21 data from the charity. Less than two per cent of drownings occurred in a lifeguard-supervised setting. Lakes and ponds had the highest concentration of drowning deaths in the province, with 35 per cent. Weekday Mornings A quick glance at the news for the upcoming day. When water rescues happen, the most important things are noticing when someone needs help and acting quickly, said Lynne Stefanchuck, executive director for Lifesaving Society Manitoba. Christian Clavelle (left) receives the Rescue Commendation Award from Lt.-Gov. Anita Neville. (Matthew Frank / Free Press) 'People do extraordinary things under extraordinary circumstances,' she said. 'We want people to know that the citizens in Manitoba are willing to step up and help each other when something dangerous happens. It's a wonderful thing.' She said people should pay attention to their surroundings and always be watching any children in the water so they can prevent emergencies from happening. It's common to hear people say they didn't know someone was drowning, despite being close by, Stefanchuck said. 'People love to be around the water, especially in our country and province, and knowing what to look for to make sure people are safe is a great way to make sure you have a good time out there.'
Winnipeg Free Press
10-07-2025
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Province quietly drops required age for lifeguards
After struggling to fill lifeguard vacancies in the wake of stalled training and certification during the COVID-19 pandemic, the province is seeking to delve into a deeper pool of applicants by quietly lowering the required age to 15 from 16. The change in Public Health Act regulations took effect June 30, just as Manitobans began flocking to outdoor pools for the summer season. 'The evidence shows that lowering the age allows for young folks who have the appropriate training to provide life-saving care in more spaces without diminishing the quality of that service,' Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said Wednesday. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES After struggling to fill lifeguard vacancies in the wake of stalled training and certification during the COVID-19 pandemic, the province is quietly lowering the required age of applicants to 15 from 16. 'We want for more families and more kids to be safe — wherever it is that they're swimming, wherever they're accessing pool services.' The revised Swimming Pools and Other Water Recreational Facilities Regulation says in order to act as a lifeguard, a person must be at least 15 years of age, hold current Lifesaving Society National Lifeguard certification, as well as current intermediate level first aid and CPR level C certification. The minimum age for an assistant lifeguard is also lowered so those 15 years of age with a current Lifesaving Society Bronze Cross certification and intermediate level first aid and CPR level C can be certified. 'Lowering the age allows for more life-saving trained folks to provide this service and help keep people safe, especially over the summer months,' Asagwara said. An average of 22 people drown in Manitoba each year, with 70 per cent occurring between May and September, according to 2015-19 data from the chief medical examiner. Less than four per cent of drownings occurred in a lifeguard-supervised setting. A government summary of the proposed changes before they were enacted said lowering the minimum age for lifeguards, lifeguard assistants and attendants would increase the pool of eligible candidates, helping operators fill important seasonal roles. 'There was a lull there during the pandemic, like there were for a lot of things,' said Lynne Stefanchuk, executive director of Lifesaving Society Manitoba. 'When it comes to the lifeguard shortage or perceived shortage or how we look at that, our certification is up … to pre-pandemic levels,' she said this week. Early in the pandemic, the numbers of lifeguards certified in 2020 and 2021 had plummeted. But even now that the ranks have been restored, hiring can still be a challenge, Stefanchuk said. 'People struggling to find lifeguards to fill positions can vary widely depending on what part of the province you're in,' she said. 'A lot of it is very seasonal work. There's a lot of factors in terms of how those positions get filled and how sought-after they are. Within the city of Winnipeg, there can be factors — like there's a few pools that have closed for renovation.' Bonivital and St. James Civic Centre indoor pools are closed for major capital renovations, city spokesman Adam Campbell said this week. Winnipeg has sufficient aquatic staff to operate its summer programs, Campbell said in an email. It is, however, recruiting lifeguards — also known as 'instructor guards' — for its fall program, he said. 'We are not currently planning any changes to our minimum hiring age for lifeguards, which is 16 years old.' Stefanchuk said summer camps, too, may face a challenge. 'Some of them are only three or four weeks total,' she said. 'If they're not close to a major centre, it's more challenging for them to find someone to cover that, in that time. That's so much different than the City of Winnipeg hiring their team of lifeguards for Pan Am (Pool) or something like that. There's just such a wide range of needs.' Lowering the minimum age for lifeguard certification brings the regulation in line with updates in 2024 to Manitoba's Recreational Camps Regulation. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. It requires a supervisor in charge of the waterfront program be at least 15, have lifeguard certification, be in attendance at all times when facilities are in use and be supervised by the camp director or an adult member of the camp's staff. The regulations needed to be modernized, said Asagwara. The proposed amendments were posted in the spring, with the province receiving feedback from the public and stakeholders, the minister said. Other changes will take effect later, including updates to fencing and access requirements to prevent unauthorized access to outdoor pools and wading pools. Later amendments will also revise water analysis requirements, allowing more laboratories to offer testing services. Carol SandersLegislature reporter Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol. Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
03-06-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Friends mourn mother of two who drowned in Whiteshell
The victim of a drowning in Whiteshell Provincial Park on Saturday has been identified as a mother of two. The 38-year-old died after she slipped on rocks and fell into the water at Sturgeon Falls near Nutimik Lake on Saturday afternoon, RCMP said. Friends have identified the victim as Harpreet Kaur Girn. One described the loss as 'the toughest and unimaginable time' of Girn's family's life. GOFUNDME Harpreet Kaur Girn, 38, a mother of two drowned in the Whiteshell on Saturday. 'No one is ever ready to (lose their) family member, same goes for two little kids waiting for their (mom),' reads the friend's GoFundMe fundraiser for Girn's loved ones, created on the weekend. 'They don't even realize that their mom who went to the waterfall and was with them until few hours ago will never return back now.' The fundraiser said her parents are in shock, while many of her friends are 'inconsolable.' 'It all ended with a sudden slip that drew her into water and ended many (lives) not just hers,' said the fundraiser, which was created for her husband and children. Lifesaving Society Manitoba's executive director, Lynne Stefanchuk, described the woman's death as a tragedy. 'Our hearts just break for the family,' said Stefanchuk. 'You never want to see someone's life taken suddenly like that.' Stefanchuk warned the public to take precautions, as the summer begins and people flock to swim and spend time near bodies of water. 'You never know what might happen, so be as prepared as possible is really what we encourage people to do,' she said, adding that can include wearing a life jacket in or near the water, keeping kids close and abstaining from alcohol when boating or swimming. 'You never want to have to think about hindsight,' said Stefanchuk. She encouraged everyone, particularly people new to Canada, to take basic swimming lessons. 'Those basic safety lessons can make the difference when it finally comes down to it, if something should happen,' said Stefanchuk. Whitemouth RCMP were called to the area of the falls at 12:45 p.m. Saturday, where bystanders told them the water's strong current pulled Girn into the lake. A conservation officer in a boat was later able to find her in Nutimik Lake. She was taken to hospital and pronounced dead, RCMP said Monday. The drowning is not the first time a person has died at Sturgeon Falls, about 125 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg and 20 kilometres from the Ontario border. Accessible by a hiking trail, the falls are located on a narrow section of fast and deep water between Nutimik and Numao lakes on the Winnipeg River system. Rough water conditions, including surfing waves, have made the site a popular draw for experienced kayakers, while also creating safety concerns. A 12-year-old boy from Winnipeg, Usaid Habib, slipped into the water while climbing down the rocks on May 27, 2023. A bystander jumped into the water to try to save him, but could not get him to shore. RCMP recovered the boy's body two days later. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. In mid-May 2017, former Kenora police chief Dan Jorgensen died in a kayaking incident near the falls, after his boat overturned in rough waters at the base of the rapids. He was en route to Gimli on the Winnipeg River at the time. The trail to Sturgeon Falls was not open to the public Saturday, amid the province's mandatory evacuation of parts of the Whiteshell due to wildfires, though the campground at Nutimik Lake had reopened Friday. Elsewhere in Manitoba this year, a 20-year-old man drowned at the Pinawa Dam Provincial Heritage Park. The man slipped on wet rocks at the top of a small waterfall at the dam and fell into the water on the evening of May 4, RCMP said. His body was found the following day. Erik PinderaReporter Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Erik. Every piece of reporting Erik produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
