Latest news with #motorboats
CBC
08-08-2025
- General
- CBC
'I was gutted': Swimmer in Sudbury, Ont., shares her concerns following a fatal boat crash
When she was younger, Jodie McConnell would swim a full kilometre across Sudbury's Lake Nepahwin to a beach on the Laurentian University campus. But now she sticks closer to shore, out of concern for her personal safety. "When I've tried to swim this summer I have not made it out of this harbour because of motorboats at fast speed and also Jet Skis," she said. On Friday, Aug. 1, a boat struck 52-year-old Sylvia Donato when she was out swimming in Lake Nepahwin. She died of her injuries the next day. Donato was a science teacher at Sudbury's Lockerby Composite School. "A talented science educator, Sylvia Donato's positive attitude inspired students to do their best each and every day, both in the classroom and beyond the classroom walls," the Rainbow District School Board said in a statement. McConnell didn't personally know Donato, but said she was well-known in Sudbury's swimming community, and was training to compete in the Beaton Classic race, which includes a one-kilometre swim section. She said she was "just gutted" when she heard Donato died in the hospital. "It's all I have thought about since learning about it," McConnell said. She said the beach has been unusually quiet since Donato's death. "I believe in my heart they are honouring the loss of life of this accomplished swimmer," she said. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, McConnell said she's noticed many more motorboats and personal watercraft on the small urban lake. She believes a lot of people with property on the lake saw boating as a fun family activity when many indoor activities weren't possible due to social distancing rules. But that has meant swimmers are sharing the lake with watercraft that can travel at fast speeds. "I just know that the boat is at the advantage," McConnell said. A 'pecking order' for boats Dawn Colquhoun, a manager with Transport Canada's Office of Boating Safety, said there's a "pecking order" when it comes to watercraft. "Motorized boats must give way to boats that are not motorized. Of course, they must stay well away from swimmers," she said. "And as a boater, you must be aware of what is going on around you. It is required by law. You are required to maintain a 360-degree lookout." Colquhoun said motorized boats must also maintain speeds of 10 kilometres per hour or less when they are at least 30 metres from the shoreline. McConnell said she now always has her Swim Buddy, a brand of inflatable buoy that swimmers tie around their waist, when she's swimming in Lake Nepahwin. She said many open water swimmers use the colourful buoys to ensure they are visible to boaters. Beyond personal safety equipment, she said more needs to be done to ensure the lake is safe for everyone. Laurentian University's popular beach on the lake, for example, no longer has a lifeguard. McConnell said she would like to see that rectified. She also said boats should not be travelling at high speeds on the relatively small lake. "I know that boaters that enjoy this recreational activity with their families also are invested in safety for everyone," she said.
CTV News
20-05-2025
- CTV News
Petition calling to allow motorized boats on Clear Lake garners thousands of signatures
Due to the ongoing zebra mussel problem, motorboats are banned on Clear Lake this summer. A petition calling on Riding Mountain National Park to allow motorized watercraft on Clear Lake this summer has garnered more than 2,000 signatures. The petition, which is available on says park officials previously said motorized boating would be back for the 2025 season. However, shortly before the May long weekend, Parks Canada announced this would not be the case because of zebra mussels. 'This blindsided visitors and devastated local businesses that rely on boating tourism,' the petition says. 'If zebra mussels are a concern, the solution is inspection and education—not a full ban that punishes responsible users.' Now the petition is calling on Riding Mountain National Park and Parks Canada to keep its original commitment and implement 'fair and proven' measures to manage zebra mussels. 'We're not asking for excuses. We're asking for action,' the petition states. This petition comes after Parks Canada announced that it will continue to restrict motorized watercraft on the lake. The government says it's taking a precautionary approach to protect the health of Clear Lake and other nearby bodies of water and reduce the spread of zebra mussels.
