Harbour Pool Promotes Water Safety During National Drowning Prevention Week

The City of Fort Saskatchewan is proud to support National Drowning Prevention Week (NDPW), running from July 20 to 26, 2025. Hosted at Harbour Pool, this year’s events will promote the national #SaferTogether theme and include engaging activities to help raise awareness about drowning prevention.

The #SaferTogether message encourages everyone to swim with a buddy, watch out for one another, and take shared responsibility for water safety. Drowning remains a significant public safety concern in Canada, claiming approximately 400 lives each year, many of them preventable. In Alberta, an average of 30 people die by drowning annually, with young children being especially at risk.

Activities at Harbour Pool:

To mark the week, Harbour Pool is offering daily Swim to Survive sessions from Monday, July 21 to Thursday, July 24 at 1:00 pm. These free, 15-minute lessons (included with admission) are open to all ages and swim levels. Participants will learn three essential water survival skills:

• Perform a forward roll into deep water
• Tread water for one minute
• Swim 50 metres

Each participant will receive a Swim to Survive certificate and be entered into a draw for a water safety prize pack.

On Friday, July 25, Harbour Pool will observe World Drowning Prevention Day with water safety-themed activities and a special visit from Buddy the Lifeguard Dog, the facility’s water safety mascot. Buddy will be handing out prizes and helping spread the message that drowning is preventable when communities work together.

“Education, awareness, and supervision are key to preventing water-related tragedies,” says Tyson Saunderson, Team Lead Programs at Harbour Pool. “Whether you're a parent, caregiver, or swimmer, this is a great opportunity to learn something that could save a life.”

Harbour Pool encourages families, caregivers, and residents of all ages to take part in the week’s activities and help make Fort Saskatchewan #SaferTogether.
 

Fort Saskatchewan, located just 15 minutes northeast of Edmonton along the North Saskatchewan River, is a vibrant hub for economic, recreational, and cultural activities. Nestled in the centre of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland and home to nearly 30,000 residents, the city offers many amenities, including a multi-use fitness facility, an aquatics centre, 80 km of trails, and high-performance arenas and fields. Cultural highlights include a 500-seat performing arts theatre, historic sites, a museum, and a replica of the 1875 Northwest Mounted Police Fort. Fort Saskatchewan is dedicated to fostering an inclusive community, providing a blend of experiences that welcomes everyone.

The city is situated in Treaty 6 Territory and Métis Nation of Alberta District 11. We recognize that we stand upon land that carries the footsteps of many Indigenous Peoples, including the Nehiyawak, Dene, Blackfoot, Saulteaux, Nakota Sioux, and Métis. The City honours the First Peoples of this land and is committed to fostering reconciliation through relationship building, knowledge gathering, and education.