Paul Morden, The Observer
May 21, 2015
Sarnia’s Canatara Park beach has maintained its Blue Flag status for the coming summer.
It is one of 26 Canadian beaches and six marinas certified this year under the international designation administered in Canada by the organization Environmental Defence.
The beach at the city park first earned Blue Flag status in 2014, after several years of work by city officials to meet the program’s criteria. Canatara spent several years as a pilot Blue Flag site before earning full status last year.
In June 2014, city officials were joined by a representative from Environmental Defence for a ceremony at Canatara Beach to celebrate the designation.
Beaches and marinas have to achieve international standards in water quality, environmental management, environmental education, and safety, to receive, and then maintain the designation each year.
“It’s good news for us,” said Shelly Erwin, with the city’s parks and recreation department.
The biggest hurdle for Canatara has been meeting the program’s criteria for water quality, she said.
“We definitely achieved that.”
There are more than 4,000 beaches and marinas around the world that hold Blue Flag status.
“It’s international, and we have it right here in our own backyard,” Irwin said.
Grand Bend Beach, Grand Bend Marina and the Port Franks Marina in Lambton Shores have been Blue Flag faculties since 2009.
Irwin said flying the program’s blue flag at Canatara beach aids efforts to promote tourism.
“It just gives the public that assurance,” Irwin said.
It also reflects efforts being made to offer education programs at the city beach, as well as projects to protect its sensitive natural areas.
Those programs include projects involving local students planting dune grass at the beach, and carrying out other work to protect its sand dunes.
Other Canadian Blue Flag sites include the Bayfield Main Beach and Bluewater Marina, in the Municipality of Bluewater, the Port Stanley Main Beach, as well as beaches at Wasaga Beach Provincial Park.
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