Elgin County is inviting residents to learn about how to stay safe in the water during a free event at the Masonic Centre in St. Thomas on Thursday, May 7, 2026. The Water Safety Expo runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is part of the national Emergency Preparedness Week, a public safety initiative coordinated by Public Safety Canada.
The expo aims to provide families and swimmers with essential information ahead of the summer season. Experts from the Elgin County Drowning Prevention Coalition, which works to improve water safety knowledge across the region, will be on hand to share tips and demonstrate safety practices. The event comes as the community continues to focus on water safety following the 2024 drowning of 14-year-old Omer Buz at Port Stanley Main Beach, an incident that highlighted the dangers of rip currents and structural currents in Lake Erie.
According to the Lifesaving Society, approximately 160 people drown in Ontario every year, and for every fatal drowning, there are nearly four other incidents serious enough to require a visit to an emergency department. The organization also notes that people new to Canada are four times more likely to be unable to swim compared to those born in Canada, making education and outreach a priority for local advocates like coalition co-founder MaryKate Townsend.
The Municipality of Central Elgin manages four public beaches in Port Stanley, with lifeguard supervision provided specifically at the Main Beach. Residents of all ages are encouraged to attend the expo at 42703 Fruit Ridge Line to learn more about protecting themselves while enjoying local waterways this year.
