Manitobans are encouraged to make beach and water safety a priority while enjoying the province’s many beautiful beaches and lakes this summer.
“Today is officially the start of summer and for many Manitobans, summer includes a trip to the beach,” said Environment and Climate Change Minister Tracy Schmidt. “Manitoba has so many beautiful beaches and lakes offering Manitobans many opportunities to swim or soak their feet and enjoy the water. We encourage all Manitobans to be vigilant in and around the water.”
The Manitoba government urges everyone, especially boaters, children and weak swimmers, to wear a life-jacket when participating in water-related activities. Additionally, everyone should know their personal limits and only swim a safe distance and duration. People are encouraged to swim in designated swimming areas or ensure they know their environment.
At beaches located within select provincial parks, visitors can borrow life-jackets through the Life-jacket Loaner program. This year, a new station has been added at Hecla (Gull Harbour), the minister noted.
Other life-jacket loaner stations within provincial park beaches include:
- Bakers Narrows;Birds Hill;
- Clearwater (Campers Cove);
- Grass River (Gyles and Iskwasum lakes);
- Paint Lake;
- Manipogo;
- Moose Lake;
- Rainbow Beach;
- St. Malo (Main and Sunset Shores beach);
- Spruce Woods; and
- Stephenfield.
Beach safety officers are stationed at three provincial park beaches: Birds Hill, Grand Beach (West Beach) and Winnipeg Beach. While beach safety officers provide services such as public education, emergency response and first aid, parents and guardians need to be water smart and always supervise children on beaches. Parents and guardians of smaller children should always stay within arms’ reach, the minister noted.
The Manitoba government is providing beach safety officer services at these three beaches through 2028, with a total of $7.4 million in funding, the minister said.
For more information on the beach safety officer program, including operating hours, visit gov.mb.ca.
To provide additional opportunities for more Manitobans to enjoy the water, accessibility mats will once again be installed at over a dozen beaches within provincial parks, with additional locations being considered for future installations. These mats make it easier for those who are using mobility aids and parents with strollers and wagons to enjoy the beach..
From June through the Labour Day long weekend in September, the Manitoba government conducts recreational water quality testing at 57 beaches. Manitobans can view the latest results at gov.mb.ca.
