Dryden Drowning Prevention Program preparing for summer
In the wake of four local drowning deaths last summer, the Dryden Drowning Prevention Program is taking steps to ensure a safer water environment in 2026.
A 12-year old girl and her 15-year old brother drowned in the Wabigoon River in July. Two months later, a 5-year old boy and 28-year old man drowned in Wabigoon Lake.
Dryden Fire Service Chief Chris Wood spoke at Tuesday’s council meeting to outline the education, prevention and emergency response initiatives underway in anticipation of this summer.
Third and seventh graders will be taught essential, life-saving water safety skills through nationally recognized programs Swim to Survive and Swim to Survive Plus.
The programs include in-class education sessions delivered by members of Dryden Fire Service, Dryden OPP, and KDSB Northwest EMS, and three in-pool instruction sessions delivered by the Dryden Pool and Fitness Centre.
“I really want everyone to know that there’s a sense of healing for all of our emergency responders to be able to get into classrooms and deliver some of this education,” Wood said. “It’s a positive spin from very tragic events.”
The city also committed to providing clear, accessible safety information at waterfront locations, including non-designated swimming areas. These signs will be placed at municipal locations to communicate parental supervision requirements, swimming zones, drop-offs, currents, lifejacket use, emergency location information (via QR codes), and notices indicating it is an offence to remove life-saving devices from shorelines.
“We’ve also engaged with Google and are looking to add a feature to Google Maps that if you’re looking at the app, you’ll see the same images on our shores explaining these hazards,” Wood said.
City staff are developing a lifejacket rental program in partnership with the Dryden Public Library. This program will provide free adult, child, and youth lifejackets to residents, and implementation is anticipated in early 2026.
As for rescue equipment, Dryden City Council has approved capital funding for dry suits to improve responder safety and operational effectiveness across all seasons. Dryden Fire Service currently has two certified RPAS (drone) pilots and has applied for funding to acquire a service-owned drone, which would significantly enhance water rescue operations and other emergency responses. Four throw-ring style floatation devices were installed at City Docks in October.
“Chief Wood, I am so grateful, so delighted, so appreciative of the amount of work that has gone into this very, very comprehensive report,” said Councilor Catherine Kiewning. “I’m so happy there are so many parts moving within the report, because this is the kind of stuff that is going to keep our residents safe.”
City CAO Roger Nesbitt says the city is thankful for the quick response form Woods and his team.
“I truly appreciate you jumping on this right away and recognizing that we needed to do better,” Nesbitt said. “You’ve done a tremendous job, not just within our community, but through your collaboration with other communities as well. I want to recognize your efforts in all this. Thank you.”
