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= NEWS Continued from page 3 saver | Thursday, May 18, 2023 | 2a tragic and unfortunate £ open space, in a report to § council. "Staff within communi- ty services have reviewed the incident, considered Beach' signs be installed at several Waterfront | pak sites. Signag tional messaging may re. ate greater public are- ness of the safety issues, Life rings will enable assis- tance at our most frequent- ed waterfront parks." The report calls for the life ring stations to be in- stalled at 100-metre spacing and signs at the edge of the beach, as well as at beach entry points. "As our beaches and € 8 : 3 £& "| think most people would welcome the addition of any measure that has the potential to reduce injury or save a life." ~ Pamela Knight, Coronation Park Residents’ Association president harbours get more use fre Oakville residents and visitors, we want to do everything we can to en- sure everyone is safe and we have the equipment BECK YOUR THIS VIC uff Sean O'Meara photo Ward 4 Councillor Sean Meara moved the motion to have life ring stations installed at waterfront parks across Oakville. necessary should an occur- approve the life ring sta- sult of a young woman drowning at Coronation Park and people who were trying to assist expressing concerns that there was no tion Ward 2 Coun. Cathy Duddeck seconded that “This originated as a re- tx aid Duddeck. "It is im- at we provide Si irre equipment in all our waterfront parks/har- SAFETY SIGNS WILL ALSO BE INSTALLED bours." Coronation Park Resi- dents' Association presi- dent Pamela Knight was al- so encouraged about the new life ring stations. "I think most people would welcome the addi- tion of any measure that has the potential to reduce r save a life," she said. “There are so many variables in waterfront set- tings and given the variety of users, changing water and weather conditions, risk reduction is probably the most we can expect." The life ring stations and the signs are scheduled to be set up in the parks pri- to the Victoria Day weekend. Parks staff will be re- sponsible for installing the life ring stations and signs, and inspecting them week- ly. The cost of implement- WEEKEND -TORIA ing this program is esti- ertaeay har 500, with Mark ‘ing that amount can be accommodated within the approved parks and open space 2023 budget. He said there is no cer- tainty a future drowning may be prevented by add- ing these safety features. "The signage and safety equipment assist in terms of cautioning park patrons of the risks and potential risks related to swi in Lake Ontario," said Mark in his report to coun- Life ring stations have been present at the piers within the Oakville and Bronte harbours for many years. STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Oakville council recently voted to add life ring stations to several of its waterfront parks, and we thought it was impor- tant to let people know where these life ring sta- ns will be, what prompt- ed this decision and how much this will cost.