The gentle sound of waves rolling onto the shore can create a sense of calm, but water safety experts say the conditions beneath the surface can be far more dangerous than many beachgoers realize. For Nathan MacIntyre, founder of the Rip Current Information Project, improving public understanding of lake currents has become a personal mission. “We don’t paint every current with the same brush of undertow,” MacIntyre said. “There’s several different currents at play.” MacIntyre launched the organization following a series of drownings in the region, including the death of a young boy near the Port Stanley pier in 2024. The issue also hits close to home. As a teenager, MacIntyre lost a friend to a drowning in Lake Erie and later spent years working as a lifeguard on Port Stanley’s main beach. “There was information that the public needs to know,” he said. “I feel like we’ve been living with an old system that’s a bit fragmented and outdated.” Using the beach itself as a teaching tool, MacIntyre demonstrated how wind direction and wave action can create what is known as a structural rip current. According to him, prevailing southwest winds can funnel water along man-made structures such as piers, creating powerful currents capable of pulling swimmers into dangerous situations. “It is a relentless current that doesn’t stop until the wind and the waves stop,” MacIntyre said. Following the fatal drowning in 2024, safety measures were enhanced near the Port Stanley pier. Buoys have been installed to discourage swimmers from entering hazardous areas, and warning signs along the beach now alert visitors to the risks. But advocates say physical barriers and signage alone are not enough. The dangers posed by rip currents, drop-offs and other water conditions can be especially challenging for newcomers to Canada or visitors unfamiliar with the Great Lakes. The boy who drowned near the pier had recently arrived in Canada from Syria. Scott Ruddle, a longtime lifeguard who spent decades working on beaches in Grand Bend and Port Stanley, said several recent drowning victims on Lake Huron were also newcomers or tourists. “With that comes the dangers of not having any swim lessons, not understanding the dangers of currents and drop-offs that our sandbars might have,” Ruddle said. Ruddle believes water safety education should become a regular part of school curricula. “We mandate that people are supposed to graduate from school with a first aid and a CPR class,” he said. “Why not another life skill?” The Rip Current Information Centre hopes to bring greater attention to the issue at the upcoming Great Lakes Risk Communication Summit. The event is scheduled for Sept. 17 at the CASO Station in St. Thomas and will bring together leaders from communities across the Great Lakes region to discuss strategies for improving public awareness and preventing future tragedies. For MacIntyre and other advocates, the goal is simple: ensuring that everyone who comes to enjoy the Great Lakes returns home safely.
