Heading into a weekend full of sunshine and opportunities for boaters to hit area waterways, provincial police are urging those heading out to wear a life jacket.
Police say many boating deaths happen suddenly, even in calm conditions and close to shore, often involving small vessels, like canoes and kayaks.
Data shows that in 2025, nearly 80 per cent of boating fatalities investigated by Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) involved people not wearing a personal flotation device. Adult males made up almost 90 per cent of those deaths.
According to the Drowning Prevention Research Centre of Canada, 35% of water-related fatalities in Ontario are linked to swimming, and another 13% are attributed to walking, running, or playing near water, accounting for nearly half of all drownings when combined.
It’s #LifeJacketSeason across the province and we want you to be the example and wear your personal floatation device (PFD), commonly referred to as a life jacket, every time you’re on or near the water.
— OPP Central Region (@OPP_CR) June 19, 2026
🦺It only saves lives if you’re wearing it.
Keep kids within arm’s… pic.twitter.com/0LFkOkCsok
OPP say life jackets are critical for children, weak swimmers, and non-swimmers - even in shallow water - and stress that supervision and wearing one are key to avoiding tragedy.
What You Can Do:
- Always wear a properly fitted, Transport Canada (TC) approved life jacket. Modern life jackets are lightweight, comfortable, and designed to save lives. Don't just bring it, wear it.
- Ensure there is a properly sized life jacket for every person on board.
- Keep all required safety equipment easily accessible and ready to use.
- Set the example, especially for children and new boaters.
- Check weather and water conditions before heading out.
