NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
*************************
York Regional Police is reminding our citizens to be safe and follow the law when celebrating this Canada Day weekend and throughout the summer.
Every summer York Regional Police, York Paramedic Services and fire and emergency services respond to preventable tragedies on our roads, on the water and at homes across the region.
This weekend, members of the Marine Unit will be out on the water assisting boaters, as well as conducting vessel checks, to ensure all necessary safety equipment is on board and all operators have their mandatory Pleasure Craft Operators Card.
Please see a safety video from Marine Unit Staff Sgt. Aaron Busby here.
All those spending time in a boat or near the water are encouraged to enjoy it, but do so responsibly. If you drink or do drugs, don’t drive. When it comes to drinking and boating, the same rules apply when out on the water as when you’re operating a car on the road. York Regional Police also reminds boaters that each year people die needlessly in accidents on Ontario waterways. Most fatalities on the water are preventable if smart choices are made before leaving shore.
In 2022, York Regional Police began using the What3Words app to locate people lost or in distress in remote areas. For those who enjoy the outdoors in remote or unpopulated locations, we urge you to download the app so our 911 call takers know exactly where to dispatch resources in a situation where every second counts. The app is free to download for both iOS and Android devices. More information can be found here or at weathertoboat.ca.
York Regional Police is also reminding residents that setting off fireworks on public property is against the law, unless you have a permit. Remember that unused fireworks pose a significant safety hazard and cannot be thrown out in the garbage. This video from the Canadian National Fireworks Association also has some great tips and information to help stay safe.
In light of the ongoing forest fires in northern Ontario and Quebec, not all municipalities will permit fires or fireworks this year. Check with your municipality to determine if a fire ban exists or not.
Officers will also be out on Canada Day and throughout the summer conducting RIDE spot checks and patrolling our streets to stop impaired drivers, aggressive drivers and other behaviours that put others at risk. If you see any situation you believe constitutes an immediate risk to public safety, please call 911. Together, we can work to make our roads, waterways and communities safer.
*************************
