Canatara Beach, located on the shores of Lake Huron, is more than just a picturesque spot for both locals and visitors. It’s a treasured destination that offers the best of what Ontario’s natural beauty has to offer — clear waters, sandy beaches, and a relaxing atmosphere that draws people from all over.
Canatara Beach is one of only 22 beaches in Canada that have earned the prestigious Blue Flag designation. This international eco-certification is awarded to beaches and marinas that meet strict criteria for water quality, environmental education, environmental management, and safety. This recognition places Canatara Beach in a league of its own, highlighting its commitment to maintaining high standards that benefit both the environment and the community.
At the heart of the beach’s safety efforts is a dedicated team of lifeguards, led by Head Lifeguard Owen Ingles. With years of experience and a deep understanding of the challenges that come with overseeing an open water beach, Ingles is a key figure in ensuring that Canatara Beach remains a safe place for all who visit. “Emergency recognition and response is our main concern,” Ingles explained. “We are ultimately hired to watch the water. That is our primary job. But we also educate the public and participate in ongoing training.”
Becoming a lifeguard at Canatara Beach is no easy task. It requires a significant amount of training and certification, much of which is provided by the Lifesaving Society, a national organization that works to prevent drowning and reduce water-related injuries through training and public education. “To become a lifeguard, one must complete courses and become certified,” Ingles said. “The certification process is extensive, involving approximately 140 hours of training.”
The Lifesaving Society offers certification in four different areas: Pool, Waterpark, Waterfront, and Surf. At Canatara Beach, lifeguards are certified at the National Lifeguard Waterfront level, a designation that prepares them for the unique challenges of an open water environment. Candidates for this certification must be at least 15 years old and must have achieved the Bronze Cross, which is the Lifesaving Society's assistant lifeguard award. Additionally, they must be certified in Standard First Aid, either through the Lifesaving Society or another approved agency. To ensure that lifeguards remain sharp and up-to-date on their skills, recertification is required every two years, with First Aid certification needing renewal every three years.
The open water environment of Canatara Beach presents its own set of challenges, ones that are vastly different from those faced by lifeguards at a pool or waterpark. “The biggest safety issue is the open water concept,” Ingles noted. “You don’t have control over things such as the weather, storms, or bacteria in the water. Some days the depth of the bottom changes, water levels fluctuate over the summer, and bacteria levels can affect water clarity.”
Ingles also pointed out that the number of people using the beach has increased in recent years, a trend he attributes in part to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I think more people are now using the beach because during the pandemic, so many things were closed, and people were eager to explore outdoor activities,” he said. “During that time, it’s possible that people who live further away discovered the beach and are now returning to make it part of their outside activities.”
While the lifeguards at Canatara Beach are always available to assist the public and answer questions, Ingles emphasized that their primary focus remains on safety. “We don’t normally seek interaction unless there is an emergency situation,” he explained. To help manage the safety of beachgoers, the lifeguard team uses a color-coded flag system to indicate the current swimming conditions. “We use a red, yellow, and green flag system, which is determined by factors like water clarity, visibility issues, fog, and rain,” Ingles said. “The flag colors determine whether it’s safe to swim, moderately safe, or high risk.”
The flag system is not only based on the condition of the water but also on other environmental factors such as weather, wind, and bacteria counts. This proactive approach allows the lifeguard team to adapt to changing conditions and ensure that beachgoers are aware of any potential risks before they enter the water.
Training with outside agencies, such as local fire departments, is another crucial component of the lifeguard team’s preparedness. “It helps to get to know what they expect us to do and what we expect them to do,” Ingles explained. “Sometimes outside agencies aren’t aware of what we are capable of, so figuring out what we can do to assist them is important.” To this end, the lifeguards at Canatara Beach train with the Sarnia Fire Department twice a week, simulating situations such as a missing person in the water. “If something does happen, then everyone is aware of what should be happening,” Ingles said.
Teamwork is another essential aspect of lifeguarding, one that Ingles emphasized repeatedly. “Remember, we are doing it as a team, not as an individual thing,” he said. “You can’t be a lifeguard on your own. You must have your team behind you. We all work toward the same goal, and it’s also important to have fun.”
Beyond their visible presence on the beach, lifeguards at Canatara Beach are responsible for maintaining detailed records of swimmer numbers, weather conditions, and bacteria levels. This information is provided to the City of Sarnia and is valuable for planning and managing the beach. “We’re not just here working on our tans,” Ingles joked. “There’s a lot going on in the background.”
Ingles emphasized the importance of water safety, particularly in an open water environment like Canatara Beach. “The water changes, and with it, the risks change,” he said. “It’s important for people to learn to swim and for parents to monitor their children. If children are not comfortable swimming, they should be within arm’s reach of their parents.”