Two adults and their dog are safe after being rescued from the Saugeen River in Hanover on June 20, 2026. The pair’s canoe capsized near Hanover Park, leaving them stranded on a fallen tree mid-river. Thanks to quick action by the Hanover Fire Department and helpful bystanders, everyone was pulled from the water without injury.
The call for help came in around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. Firefighters deployed their rescue boat and worked with Hanover Police and Grey and Bruce County paramedics to reach the two adults. The pair was found clinging to a fallen tree in the middle of the river, wearing their life jackets and able to call for assistance.
Bystanders on shore used the What3Words app to pinpoint the exact location of the stranded pair. Fire officials say that precise information helped guide the rescue boat directly to them, avoiding a wider search along the river. The family’s dog was also brought to safety with them.
Hanover Fire is praising the rescued individuals for doing everything right. They were wearing properly fitted life jackets and had a way to communicate, two things the department says can save lives on the water. Firefighters are now using the close call to remind anyone heading out on the river to follow that example.
The Saugeen River is a popular paddling route, especially starting at Hanover Park, but it has seen serious incidents in recent years. In April 2024, four kayakers were rescued near Hanover after underestimating fast-flowing water, and two showed signs of hypothermia. In May 2025, a 25-year-old from Georgetown drowned on the river near Paisley, about 24 kilometres southwest of Hanover. Hanover Fire encourages everyone to wear a personal flotation device, carry a communication device, and check river conditions before setting out.
