On March 8, 2026, emergency teams rescued 23 ice anglers after the ice they were standing on broke away from the shore near Owen Sound, Ontario. The group was stranded on a large piece of ice that drifted roughly two kilometres into the open water of Georgian Bay.
The ice shelf originally separated from the land near Balmy Beach, just north of the city. According to the Grey Bruce OPP, some of the individuals were partially submerged in the freezing water before rescuers could reach them.
The rescue was a joint effort between the Owen Sound Police, Grey Bruce Ontario Provincial Police, local fire departments, and medical services. Rescue teams used helicopters and boats to lift the anglers from the drifting ice and bring them back to the mainland.
All 23 people were safely recovered and are expected to make a full recovery. Local officials are urging residents to stay off the ice as rising temperatures continue to make the surface unstable across the region.
