This summer is shaping up to be the best beach year yet
Craving an amazing summer to hit-up some beaches?
You may be able to forget the exotic destination this summer and pack the cooler and load up the car to visit a prime spot nearby instead.
For the first time ever we have had a record number of beaches and marinas that have been certified as clean, safe and sustainably managed in our beautiful country.
Twenty-eight beaches and twelve marinas across Canada were awarded the Blue Flag this year. That’s the most ever certified in Canada’s 15-year history with the program.
Manitoba's West Grand Beach.
THE BLUE FLAG: AN INTERNATIONAL STAMP OF APPROVAL
The Blue Flag is an international eco-certification program awarded each year. It sets the gold standard for water quality, environmental management, education, safety, and amenities.
“When you see a Blue Flag flying at a beach or marina, you know that it’s clean, safe and sustainably managed,” says Kelsey Scarfone, the water programs manager for Environmental Defence.
“These world-class beaches and marinas have worked hard to achieve the standards set by this prestigious award, and we’re proud to recognize that accomplishment today.”
Magog, Plage des Cantons, a Blue Flag beach in Quebec.
The Blue Flag is administered in Canada by Environmental Defence and is managed internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).
More than 4,000 beaches and marinas in 45 countries fly the Blue Flag. This year, four new sites applied and received the distinction which amounted to our recording breaking year. The newly added locations include both Parlee Beach and Shediac Bay Yacht Club in Shediac, New Brunswick. The other two new Blue Flags will be flying in Ontario, at Tall Pines Marina in Kenora and Loyalist Cove Marina in Bath.
FIND A BLUE FLAG NEAR YOU
Here is the list of the 28 beaches and 12 marinas that have received the Blue Flag in Canada for 2019:
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Gibsons Marina (Gibsons)
MANITOBA
West Grand Beach (Grand Beach Provincial Park)
ONTARIO
Bayfield Main Beach. Courtesy: Janette Baillie.
Bayfield Main Beach and Bluewater Marina (Municipality of Bluewater)
Bell Park Beach and Moonlight Beach (Sudbury)
Bluffer’s Park Beach, Centre Island Beach, Cherry Beach, Gibraltar Point
Beach, Hanlan’s Point Beach, Kew-Balmy Beach, Ward’s Island Beach and Woodbine Beach (Toronto)
Canatara Park Beach (Sarnia)
City of Barrie Marina (Barrie)
Colchester Harbour Marina (Town of Essex)
Grand Bend Beach, Grand Bend Marina and Port Franks Marina (Municipality of Lambton Shores)
LaSalle Park Marina (Burlington)
Loyalist Cove Marina (Bath)
Outlet Beach (Sandbanks Provincial Park)
Port Burwell East Beach (Municipality of Bayham)
Port Glasgow Beach (Municipality of West Elgin)
Port Stanley Main Beach (Municipality of Central Elgin)
Trent Port Marina (City of Quinte West)
Tall Pines Marina (Kenora)
Victoria Beach (Cobourg)
Wasaga Beach area 1, Wasaga Beach area 2 and Wasaga Beach area 5
(Wasaga Beach Provincial Park)
Waubuno Beach (Parry Sound)
QUEBEC
Plage de l’Est, plage de l’Ouest, and Plage des Cantons (Ville de Magog)
NEW BRUNSWICK
Aboiteau Beach (Cap-Pelé)
Parlee Beach Provincial Park (Shediac)
Shediac Bay Yacht Club (Shediac)
NOVA SCOTIA
Halifax Waterfront.
Halifax Waterfront (Halifax)
More details about the Blue Flag program and the certified marinas and beaches can be found at BlueFlag.ca.
