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Police remind everyone not to feed bears and be safe on the water

Several local operators were warned for violations regarding safety equipment on boats last weekend
opp safety information
Ontario Provincial Police are reminding boater and cottagers to be safe as the season ends. That includes not drinking while boating and keeping trash and food waste out of reach of bears.

NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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Boaters checked by marine officers from the Southern Georgian Bay OPP Detachment in even late August continue to be short on essential vessel safety equipment and life-jackets. Over the Aug. 19-28, 2022, time period officers checked 82 vessels for safety equipment resulting in 12 operators being charged and 14 operators were warned for violations under the Canada Shipping Act.

Marine officers logged 69 hours of patrol time on the waters of Georgian Bay focusing efforts on Giants Tomb and Beckwith Island areas along with patrols of Gloucester Pool and the Trent System  keeping a watch for impaired operators. Five operators were tested on the roadside screening device for blood/alcohol levels and two of those operators received a 3 - day drivers licence suspension and six operators were served tickets for Liquor Licence Control Act offences.

Numerous investigations were also conducted as the officers responded to 16 calls for service on numerous bodies of water located within the Detachment patrol area.

Officers are currently conducting an injury investigation after a unresponsive 55-year-old male was removed from the waters of Six Mile Lake near Winding Way. Emergency Services were dispatched at approximately 8:30 p.m. Aug. 28, 2022 to assist the male who had been operating a personal watercraft when he went into the water. Anyone with information or who may have observed this incident / has video surveillance footage is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or  [email protected] .

Don't Feed the Bears

Marine officers attended several islands on Georgian Bay and spoke with cottagers in reference to bear sightings and problems with bears. As the summer season nears to a close, so do the wild food sources that bears count on for their next meal. Leaving untidy garbage cans, poorly cleaned BBQ's, bird feeders and improper ways of disposing of food products only helps to invite bears and possibly their cubs to your cottage. Please review the following link to help reduce your problems with our four legged friends who live in the bush here all year long - https://www.ontario.ca/page/prevent-bear-encounters-bear-wise

Educating the public about safe driving practices with our community safety partners is a priority, if you see a possible impaired driver on our roadways, waterways or trails please "Make the Call" and dial 911 as impaired driving never ends wellplease make a plan to get home safely.

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