Owen Sound, ON – The YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce is proud to participate in National Drowning Prevention Week (NDPW), taking place July 20–26, 2025. Coordinated by the Lifesaving Society, NDPW is a critically important annual campaign that focuses national attention on drowning prevention and water safety education.

This year’s theme, “Safer Together,” highlights the importance of collective responsibility when it comes to staying safe in, on, and around water. Throughout the week, life-saving messages will be shared across Canada to raise awareness of the drowning problem and promote key prevention strategies, such as:

• Always staying within arm’s reach when supervising young children around water
• Swimming in areas supervised by lifeguards
• Avoiding swimming or boating alone
• Staying sober around water, alcohol and cannabis impair judgment, balance, and reflexes
• Making informed decisions when near open water

To support this national initiative, and thanks to a generous donation from Ontario Power Generation (OPG), the YMCA will offer two free community swims on Sunday, July 20. These swims are open to all and provide an opportunity for individuals and families to have fun in the water, learn water safety tips, and enter to win a water safety prize pack:

• YMCA Health, Fitness & Aquatics
  700 10th St. E., Owen Sound
  July 20, 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM
  
  
• Blue Dolphin Pool
  57 Richmond St., Meaford
  July 20, 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM

“We’re proud to work with community partners like OPG to remove barriers and promote safe aquatic activities,” says Brandon Downing, Manager of Health, Fitness & Aquatics. “We all have a role to play in preventing drownings, and it starts with education, access, and awareness.”

Swim lessons play a crucial role in drowning prevention. Basic swimming ability is a fundamental survival skill that can make the difference in an emergency situation. At the YMCA, we focus on building strong swimming skills while also teaching essential water safety education that lasts a lifetime. We offer lessons for all ages and abilities, from parent & tot classes to adult swim instruction, helping our community gain confidence in and around water.

In partnership with the Lifesaving Society Ontario, the YMCA also delivers Swim to Survive and Swim to Survive+, school-based programs that provide students with the minimum skills needed to survive an unexpected fall into deep water. From September to May, over 900 students in Grey Bruce took part in these programs, gaining critical skills that can save lives.

As part of NDPW, the YMCA also recognizes World Drowning Prevention Day on July 25, a globally recognized date designated by the World Health Organization to honour lives lost and advocate for drowning prevention worldwide.

Together, we can make a difference. Learn more about our swim programs, access schedules, and stay informed at ymcaowensound.on.ca.