New data shows a rise in drownings this year, with Ontario seeing the biggest spike. In just one week, three lives were lost in separate incidents around the region. On Tuesday night, police responded to another drowning on Balsam Lake. The body of a 75-year-old man from North York was recovered from the water earlier Wednesday afternoon. Stephanie Bakalar with The Lifesaving Society said she is “highly concerned with what we are seeing this year with this spike in drownings.” The Life Saving Society of Ontario is reminding people, especially parents, to be extra vigilant near any body of water. “So far in Ontario this year we have heard of 57 drowning deaths. At this point last year, we had heard of 49 drowning deaths,” said Bakalar. The extreme heat has been a big factor behind big numbers at local beaches this summer. The fear is those drowning numbers could rise. A parent at the beach said, “I always be with them. I always try to be with them, and that’s the best part, right guys?” “Uh hum,” one child responded. Parents are being told to always keep their young ones close by, regardless of their swimming abilities. “We want parents to be paying attention to their kids. We have had a couple of missing’s this year, so we want parents to be paying attention, staying off their phones, actively watching their kids,” said a Barrie lifeguard. Local fire departments are often the first to respond to water calls and encourage people to consider wearing life jackets when in open water. “There’s a life jacket program with the City of Barrie lifeguards. Just stop by the lifeguard hut and you can grab any life jacket at any time, or borrow the life jacket and return it at the end of the day, or keep it for a couple of hours,” said Kevin Grimoldby of the Barrie Fire Department. It’s likely going to be a busy long weekend near all bodies of water, so officials urge you to keep that in mind when at the beach with your loved ones.
