With summer around the corner and people starting to swim, the Town of Bradford is set to host its April Pools Day.
For the seventh time, the town is hosting an event educating the community on water safety.
This year’s complimentary April Pools Day is on Saturday, April 13, at the Bradford Lions Aquatic Centre.
Here are the details:
- 12:30-1:30 p.m.: Community display booths at the Community Corner of the Leisure Centre
- 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.: Free leisure swimming
- 2:00 p.m.: Relay race featuring teams from BWG Lifeguards and other community partners.
This year the focus is on lifejacket use and boat safety. Cortnee Andrade, the town Aquatic Leader, says lifejacket safety is often overlooked.
“I think life jackets are kind of an important one that people often forget about. It's really big, it's a really important water safety message that we drill into the community members,”
Andrade said.
Lifejackets can also act as a second line of defence when helping save lives.
“Another key important water safety message that kind of ties into that is when parents aren't supervising their children. A life jacket is kind of an extra safety measure that will help reduce the amount of drownings in our community,”
said Andrade.
Bradford West Gwillimbury’s Mayor James Leduc says he’s proud of how much awareness events like April Pools Day have brought to the community.
"Every year, about 160 people drown in Ontario alone, yet almost every drowning death is preventable. It is through the dedication of organizations like the Lifesaving Society and the community outreach/education efforts of municipalities that we can reach the ultimate goal of zero!” Leduc said in a press release.
“I am proud of the work our aquatics team has done year after year to raise awareness and organize community events, like April Pools Day, to ensure our residents exercise safe and responsible behaviour in and around water. I encourage residents to participate in this important event and have some fun while learning life-saving skills, " Leduc said.
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Along with the safety tips April Pools Day also offers activities for children and adults.
The event is welcoming various organizations like the fire department and the police, with potential appearances of a fire truck and ambulance for people to tour.
There will be an aquatics booth at the event with activities. Kids will be able to learn about CPR as they can practice compressions on a mannequin.
Buddy the lifeguard from the Life Saving Society will also be in attendance. He will be available for photos.
The Town of Bradford is currently the recipient of two awards for their aquatic safety. The Darnell Challange Cup and the Water Smart Award from the Lifesaving Society.
“I would say, and it just kind of goes to show that everything that our staff have done really is kind of being seen and recognized and our messages are getting out there to the community,”
said Andrade.
The Bradford Lions Aquatic Centre is located at 471 West Park Ave.
