The Government of Saskatchewan held a water safety awareness event at Echo Valley Provincial Park near Fort Qu'Appelle on Friday afternoon, just in time for a weekend sure to find many campers and day visitors at the beach. This comes as the province's drowning prevention week — July 21 to 27 — draws to a close. Before the speeches and demonstrations began, guests got a surprise as the Amphibious Response Safety Unit One (ARSU1) headed out on the water to carry out a real rescue of a woman.
She was on a floating tube that got pushed too far out into the water by the wind. The rescue set the tone for an afternoon that centred on how to stay safe on Saskatchewan lakes. "Saskatchewan is home to over 100,000 beautiful lakes and rivers.
We're really proud of that because a lot of people just think we're flat prairie," said Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Laura Ross. ARSU1 director of operations John Maczko, right, and Gusztav the water rescue canine promote water safety Friday afternoon at the beach. (Laura Sciarpelletti/CBC) Ross said people in Saskatchewan love their summers, which is why awareness of boating and water safety is so important.
ARSU1 is a volunteer led organization headed up by director of operations John Maczko. The team promotes water, boating and ice safety, and assists first responders with water related incidents and rescues. Gusztav, the team's water rescue canine, was also at the event, doing his part to support the cause.
ARSU1 serves recreational bo.
