Police are urging everyone heading out on, or near the water to make the decision to wear your life jacket.
Ontario Provincial Police say that despite calm conditions and proximity to shore, many boating-related drownings happen when people least expect danger.
They add that 89% of victims in boating-related drownings were not wearing a life jacket with most of the tragedies happen in small vessels, like canoes and kayaks, and preventable.
Meanwhile, young children, weak swimmers, and non-swimmers are being encouraged to always wear a life jacket when near water, even in shallow areas.
Supervision and proactive lifesaving decisions, like wearing a life jacket, are key to avoiding tragedy.
