Safe Boating Awareness Week: Richmond RCMP urges preparedness and precaution on the water

Richmond

2025-05-16 12:15 PDT

In conjunction with Safe Boating Awareness Week, running from May 17 – 23, 2025, Richmond RCMP is ramping up efforts to ensure that all boaters are well-informed and fully prepared for a safe season on the water.

Surrounded by water, Richmond is a popular destination for various water-based activities, including speedboats, canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. It is vital to understand that Richmond’s waterways, which include the three arms of the Fraser River, often have significant commercial vessel traffic.

Richmond RCMP is reiterating the importance of safety and preparedness before heading out onto the water with a video campaign on social media and public outreach. This initiative is part of a broader push by the RCMP to promote safety and enforce regulations on local waterways.

View larger image: Photo of SSM Lundie captaining the Richmond RCMP Fraser Guardian

Richmond RCMP highlights the five key messages for this year’s Safe Boating Awareness Week from the Canadian Safe Boating Council:

1. Wear Your Lifejacket - Over 80% of Canadians who drown while boating were not wearing their lifejacket or not wearing it properly. There are so many choices for lifejackets / personal floatation devices on the market now, it is easy to pick one that suits your ‘boating style’ and is one that you are comfortable wearing all the time you are on the water.
2. Boat Sober - Whether it’s prescription drugs, alcohol or cannabis, the use of intoxicants is both irresponsible and illegal. In some provinces, being convicted of impaired operation will also affect your automobile license.
3. Take a Boating Course – If you are operating a powered recreational vessel, you should have your Pleasure Craft Operator Card or some other proof of competency. But that is just as start, so consider taking some advanced courses. If your boating preference tends towards paddle, this is the perfect time to enroll in some on water training. Or if you are just starting out, log onto and start your boating in a paddle craft responsibly. The site is not a substitute for on water training, but it does provide a great first step in education about paddle craft.
4. Be Prepared, You and Your Vessel- Make sure you and your boat are up to your planned on-water activities. That means you are knowledgeable about your upcoming trip, your boat is properly equipped with the required and good to have safety equipment, the weather is suitable for the voyage, you have sufficient fuel and you have filed a trip plan. Plus, this is not all about you…it is important to keep in mind that by staying out of trouble you will not be putting pressure on rescue resources.
5. Be Cold Water Safe - Cold water can severely impact your ability to swim or even just stay afloat.Even the best swimmers will feel the effects of a sudden cold-water immersion. No matter your swimming ability, best chance of surviving an accidental cold-water immersion is to wear your lifejacket!

Richmond RCMP has seen an increase in the number of small, non-motorized vessels in the Fraser River, particularly in the North Arm which is a major shipping lane. The wake created by larger commercial vessels can pose a significant risk to smaller vessels. Richmond RCMP encourages anyone entering the waterways to ensure they take the following precautions:

1. Watch out for larger vessels: large vessels may have limited visibility – don’t assume they can see you.
2. Paddleboarders should operate as close to the shoreline as is safe and practical.
3. Always wear a personal flotation device (PFD) with a whistle and a floating throw rope.
4. Familiarize yourself with cold water safety. Even in warm weather, water can be cold, particularly along the ocean’s coastline.
5. Bathing suits are often unsuitable for cold water activities. Wear a wetsuit for thermal protection.
6. Recognize the early signs of cold water effects, such as shivering, loss of coordination, and numbness.
7. Do not consume alcohol or cannabis before or during water activities.
8. Paddle with a partner and stay close to shore.
9. Check weather conditions and forecasts, including tides and swells.

Preparation and precaution can prevent most of the incidents we see on the water, said Staff Sergeant Major Lundie, who Captains the Fraser Guardian, Richmond RCMP’s patrol vessel. We want to ensure a safe, fun and incident-free boating season for everyone.

For more information about boating safety and to ensure you have the necessary knowledge and equipment, please visit Transport Canada’s Marine Safety page.

Released by:

Email: richmond_media@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Website: richmond.rcmp.ca

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