North Bay wants to keep its youth safe in the water this summer
The city of North Bay is teaming up with the Canadian Lifesaving Society to conduct free swimming lessons for youth at a public beach this summer.
The city says it’s an effort to teach youth how to swim to survive during National Drowning Prevention Week, July 17-23.
The lifesaving society said swimming is considered the second most popular activity among children between the ages of five and twelve.
“Survival skills for when you roll into the water, and that’s something that everybody living near the lake should have the opportunity to go and get those skills and make sure they’re as safe as possible,” said the city’s Bryan Kimber.
The swim-to-survive skills are not meant to replace swimming lessons.
The course will be conducted on July 24 at Olmstead Beach, where instructors teach children between 6 and 14 how to roll into the water, tread water for a minute and swim 50 meters.
“What's important is to reach out to youth especially during their school years so they can learn these skills as a child,” said Barbara Byers of the Canadian Lifesaving Society.
Lifejacket use and general boating safety will also be included in the program, and pre-registration is not required.
"We can reach them when they’re young in addition to them having the skills to keep them safe when they’re a child. They’ll have these skills to keep them safe and enjoy the water for the rest of their life," said Byers.
The society said, drowning is the second leading cause of preventable death for children under the age of 10.
“For many children, they haven't had swimming lessons in over two years and that's a concern, because we know how important it is and we want both children and parents to be aware of how important it is," Byers said.
The society estimates nearly 160 people drown in Ontario lakes and swimming pools each year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.