Water safety course for newcomers not in plans for province

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This article was published 03/07/2017 (3048 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BIRDS HILL PROVINCIAL PARK — The province has no plans to increase funding for educating newcomers on beach and water safety, and that has some Manitobans worried.

“They should address that,” said Vikram Brar from the sand of Birds Hill Provincial Park beach Monday. Last year, three newcomers drowned at Manitoba’s provincial parks in August.

The English-as-a-second-language course offers beach and water information to people in the class. Newcomers who don’t take the course don’t receive formal water education — and it’s not something they always think about when they first move here.

“When I first came here, I was on a working visa, so I wasn’t aware of any of that,” said Grace Glendenning, who arrived in Canada in 2005. She watched two of her kids splash in the shallow water at the park from a nearby blanket Monday.

The Free Press spoke to four other immigrants who were at Birds Hill Provincial Park, and all said they received no beach safety education.

“Nothing,” said Simran Bhullar, who came to Canada to study nursing and hopes to stay. Bhullar said swimming isn’t popular where she’s from in India.

Glendenning and others also think a lifeguard would benefit the beaches at provincial parks, which have beach safety officers instead. The officers educate people, provide rescue efforts and do minor first aid but do not actively monitor the water. The exception is at Birds Hill, where beach officers do limited patrol for the lake.

“I definitely think more lifeguards on the beach. It should be the first priority,” said Bhullar.

Of the deaths by drowning, fewer than one per cent happened in an area that was under lifeguard supervision, a report from the Lifesaving Society’s provincial branch states.

The report also showed the rate of children under four who drown is highest in Manitoba when compared with other provinces.

Some beach-goers called for an implementation of the provincial Beach Safety Program’s basic premise — that all individuals are responsible for themselves, their families and affiliated groups.

“I think it’s up to the parents to keep an eye on their kids,” said Anastacia Bagayoko, another long weekend beach-goer.

Someone from Bagayoko’s friend group will go with the kids when they’re in the water — something beach safety officers sometimes tell people is mandatory. It’s a part of the education the officers provide.

Cathy Cox, the province’s sustainable development minister, said there will be updated brochures and better signage to guide newcomers.

The green-and-white sign that stood near the back of the beach Monday was rarely acknowledged by passersby Monday afternoon. It states the duties of the beach officers, four beach rules (swim in marked areas, and no disruptive behaviour, alcohol or dogs) and the meanings of colours for flags indicating lake condition.

At the top left, the sign states: “Lifeguard service not provided.”

Bhullar and Brar admitted they didn’t notice the sign when they came in.

What was hard to miss was an unattended kiosk of colourful life-jackets. The honours-system kiosk allows people to use its 75 jackets for free. Glendenning was surprised to see something like that.

“It’s a really, really good idea,” she said.

Cathy and Christine Mason used the kiosk Monday after forgetting the kids’ life-jackets at home.

“We think it’s awesome,” said Christine.

The province plans to increase the number of life-jackets available.

There remains a contrast in the practices of beach-goers. While some elementary-aged kids swam by themselves at Bird Hill’s Park, seven-year-old Allana Mason swam within arm’s reach of her relatives.

She later recited what she’d do if she ever fell into deep water: “Float… (on my) back.”

“Would you have to panic and kick your feet?” asked Christine.

“No,” she answered.

stefanie.lasuik@freepress.mb.ca