Ottawa – The City’s beaches at Mooney’s Bay, Westboro and Petrie Island will have lifeguards on duty starting Saturday, June 27.
Britannia Beach will remain closed for the season for planned riverbed restoration work.
Lifeguards will be on duty every day from noon to 7 pm until August 30. Ottawa Public Health will conduct regular water quality testing. Check ottawa.ca/beaches for any no-swim advisories and whether lifeguards are on duty. Check ottawapublichealth.ca for the latest water-quality results.
Be sure to practice sun, water and COVID-19 safety for a fun and healthy day at the beach:
- Keep a minimum of two-metres from others in the water and on shore
- Use hand sanitizer frequently
- Avoid touching your face and other people’s property – like chairs, balls and frisbees
- Keep young children within arms’ reach
- Visit your closest beach to minimize travel
- Self-screen and stay home if you are sick or showing symptoms of illness
- Bring a mask for situations when physical distancing may be difficult Since some people who are infected with COVID-19 may have the virus and not know it, masks can help decrease the risk of spreading the virus.
To further help you and your family stay safe and healthy, the City has worked with Ottawa Public Health to implement COVID-19 prevention measures:
- Enhanced cleaning measures are in place for beach washrooms, lifeguard stands and lifeguarding equipment
- Extra comfort stations (portable toilets) at some locations
- No rentals of stand-up paddle boards or volleyball nets
However, beach accessible wheelchair will be available for loan on a first-come, first-serve basis.
While the trend of COVID-19 cases is positive, everyone must remain vigilant and mindful of their behaviours. To help avoid a second wave, avoid large crowds where physical distancing can be compromised. We have seen the unfortunate results from similar scenes at many North American parks and beaches.
Also, respect the health of our beach and park environments by not littering. Dispose of your waste in bins or bring it home to dispose in your green bin or your recycling and garbage bins.
Parking lots for the beaches will be open. Also, check octranspo.com to help plan your transit route to the parks and beaches.
