Blue Flags awarded to 16 beaches and nine marinas in Canada for 2024, announces Swim Drink Fish
May 27th, 2024 –
16 beaches and nine marinas have earned the prestigious Blue Flag Canada award this year. Blue Flag is an international award given to beaches and marinas that meet high environmental, safety, and cleanliness standards. Swim Drink Fish became the National Operator of the Blue Flag program in Canada in 2020.
The Blue Flag will be an important symbol for Canadians looking for memorable beach and marina experiences this summer. Last year a record number of Canadians visited Blue Flag destinations where they were able to explore local sites and waters.
This is no better represented than at Grand Bend Beach in Ontario. One of North America’s finest beaches, Grand Bend’s nearby shorelines boast one of the longest freshwater sand dune ecosystems in Canada and are leading the way in accessible and sustainable recreation and tourism. In partnership with Lake Huron Coastal Centre, the municipality of Lambton Shores is leading the way in plastic and litter reduction through community-based cleanups and educational workshops underscoring the power of collaboration and the importance of working collectively in our efforts to protect the environment
“Connect, Collect, Share, and Restore - The four components behind the Swim Drink Fish theory of change. We aim to Connect people to their water, work to Collect and Share open information about the conditions, and together Restore those waters we love. There is no better program than Blue Flag to catalyze that change. We are so grateful for all of our Blue Flag operators in their ongoing contributions and dedication to keeping our waters swimmable, fishable, and drinkable for future generations.” - Gregary Ford, Swim Drink Fish Vice President
Share your experience
Make sure to share your adventures this summer at Blue Flags beaches and marinas on social media and take part in the celebrations with the hashtag #BlueFlag, and tag @swimdrinkfish.
2024 Blue Flag Canada beaches and marinas
Parlee Beach (Provincial Park)
Port Burwell Municipal East Beach
Quick facts
Swim Drink Fish became the National Operator for Blue Flag Canada in early 2020.
Swim Drink Fish is a registered charity that uses community science and communications technology to inspire people to know and safeguard their local waters. Learn more at www.swimdrinkfish.ca.
Swim Drink Fish is one of 51 National Operators in the Blue Flag International network.
A single Blue Flag beach can attract more than $2-million in revenue for the surrounding neighbourhood each year. (Source: Determining the Economic Impact of Beaches - Lake Huron Shoreline from Sarnia to Tobermory)
Beach water quality is like the weather. It changes every day. Beach monitoring seasons and start dates vary across Canada. Check Swim Guide for the latest updates. For the latest updates, if the Blue Flag is up, then water quality results have passed regional standards.
Anyone interested in applying for Blue Flag Canada certification for 2025 can learn more here.
Links
Foundation for Environmental Education
Contact
To schedule an interview, please contact:
Danica Abrams
danica@swimdrinkfish.ca
