For Immediate Release

Date: July 2014

Donation of Life Jackets

During the spring of 2014 – the and Edmonton Power and Sail Squadrons donated lifejackets to The Lifesaving Society and Northwest Territories, for their Lifejacket Loaner Station Programs in parks around Alberta.

Boating is an essential part of life for millions of Canadians. According to the Canadian Safe Boating Council, 89 percent of recreational boaters who drown each and year across were not wearing a lifejacket. Most of these drownings occur in small open power boats, accounting for 60 percent of these preventable deaths. A majority of these victims were males between the ages of 19 and 35, out for a day of fishing. An average of 140 unnecessary drownings occur every year.

Many boaters who drown believe they are good swimmers, so they feel that having a lifejacket on board and within easy reach is good enough. Most drownings happen unexpectedly when small boats capsize or someone falls overboard!

This is why the Edmonton and Calgary Power and Sail Squadrons have donated 40 lifejackets to The Lifesaving Society’s Lifejacket Loaner Station Program.

‘ … The Edmonton and Calgary Power and Sail Squadrons donated these lifejackets to help improve boating safety awareness in Alberta. We believe in the boating safety message: ‘Choose it. Use it. Wear a lifejacket.’ We strongly support this lifejacket Loaner Program initiative.’

Randy Woods, Commander, Edmonton Power & Sail Squadron

The Lifejacket Loaner Stations, which are run by Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation staff, are kiosks where park visitors can borrow lifejackets, available in infant to adult sizes, at no cost and return them after use.

It’s the law that all Canadian vessels are required to carry a Canadian approved flotation device or lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board. Even paddle boats, canoes and stand-up paddle boards.

Choose it. Use it. Wear a lifejacket. It won’t work if you don’t wear it. For more information visit: www.lifesaving.org.

About Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons

Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons is a community of passionate boaters across Canada who are committed to safety, boating education, and having fun on the water. It is a national volunteer driven organization with a long-standing reputation for offering high-quality educational courses. With a 75 year history and a membership of over 26,000 in 155 Squadrons across the country, CPS has played a major role in boating culture in Canada and is the established leader for the training of recreational boaters. CPS works co-operatively with Transport Canada, Industry Canada, Fisheries and Oceans, The Lifesaving Society, Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, and many other organizations involved in safe boating.

For more information, visit the Canadian Power & Sail Squadrons web sites: www.cps-ecp.org, http://www.edmontonpowerandsail.ca, http://www.cpscalgary.com or www.boatingcourses.ca.

The Edmonton Power & Sail Squadron can be reached at: (780) 669-1034

The Calgary Power & Sail Squadron can be reached at: (587) 333-8313 Alberta Lifejacket Loaner Stations

(USUALLY LOCATED NEXT TO BOAT LAUNCHES)

 Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park (north of Whitecourt)  Provincial Park (Pigeon Lake)  Ghost Reservoir Provincial Recreation Area (, west of Cochrane)  Provincial Park (north east of Rocky Mountain House)  Provincial Park (south east of Fort McMurray)  Young's Point Provincial Park (, west of Valleyview)  (east of )  Fish Creek Provincial Park (south west of Calgary)  Moonshine Lake Provincial Park (north of Grande Prairie)  Provincial Park (Edmonton Area)  Aspen Beach Provincial Park (East of Bentley)  Cypress Hills Provincial Park (South of Medicine Hat)  Beauvais Lake Provincial Park (Pincher Creek)  Kinbrook Island Provincial Park (Scandia Area)  Dillberry Provincial Park (Rutland area)  Heritage Park (south west of Calgary)  Fred Henne Beach Territorial Park (Yellowknife)  Territorial Park (Hay River)