Saugeen Shores Lifesaving Club photo

Hub Staff

Saugeen Shores Aquatics Supervisor Shanna Reid gave a formal invitation to Saugeen Shores Council to attend the Lifesaving Sport Provincial Championships happening in Saugeen Shores August 12 through 15.

“This is a good sport tourism story,” said Reid during her delegation in Council Chambers July 10. “In 1978 Port Elgin actually hosted the Provincial Championships so that was almost 40 years ago, we’re back at it again.”

The club is hosting three championships over the four day event - 200 Juniors athletes, along with their families, will attend the Ontario Junior Lifeguard Games, 30 plus Masters will be taking part in the Ontario Masters Lifesaving championships and 125 Senior athletes (age 19 to 25) will participate in the Ontario Senior Lifesaving championships - with both communities within Saugeen Shores being utilized. “We are going to be highlighting our two communities, both Port Elgin Main Beach and Southampton Chantry View Beach,” said Reid.

Reid explained that lifesaving sport is based on humanitarian purposes and that it’s all about saving lives. “These kids, these adults and these seniors are actually learning these skills so that they can be fit, that they can rescue and that they can use equipment on our waterfronts,” she said, adding that the club is “very proud” to be hosting the event.

Events include a 2 kilometre run, 80 metre sprints, swimming and paddleboard races, paddleboard rescue races and a surf ski race.

Reid then offered a YouTube link to give councillors and an idea of what to expect. “We’re hoping that all of you will come down at some point and watch the events,” she said.