Vaudreuil-Dorion, Proud Ambassador of National Drowning Prevention Week

This summer, the Ville de Vaudreuil-Dorion is once again partnering with the Lifesaving Society as an ambassador for National Drowning Prevention Week (NDPW). Under the theme Safer Together, the City will host several awareness activities from July 20 to 26 at the Sainte-Madeleine (14 Sainte-Madeleine Street) and Saint-Jean-Baptiste (150 de la Fabrique Avenue) outdoor pools.

“According to data from the Lifesaving Society, drowning incidents involving young children aged 0 to 5 are particularly concerning. In 2024, seven drownings were recorded in Quebec for this age group. That’s seven too many. To help prevent such tragedies in our community, I strongly believe in the importance of preventive measures such as constant supervision, learning to swim from a young age, and raising awareness,” said Guy Pilon, Mayor of Vaudreuil-Dorion.

Starting July 20, a selection of books on water safety will be featured at the municipal library. Titles such as Le jour où je n’ai pas pu plonger by Olympic diver Sylvie Bernier and On se jette à l’eau by the Lifesaving Society will be available for consultation.

Among the initiatives planned throughout the week, awareness activities will be organized for children attending Animation Jeunesse Vaudreuil-Dorion day camps. They will be taught key water safety reflexes to adopt when near bodies of water. On Tuesday, July 22, between noon and 2 p.m., lifeguards will swim a total of 2,052 lengths in tribute to the 2,052 drowning deaths recorded in Quebec between 2000 and 2025. At the neighbourhood celebration on Wednesday, July 23, at Jean-Jacques-Bertrand Park, lifeguards will be present to offer families aquatic safety advice in a fun and engaging way. On Thursday, July 24, from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., children will have the opportunity to play on an inflatable structure set up on the water at the Saint-Jean-Baptiste pool. The aquatic team will use this attraction as an opportunity to run an information booth near the pool. On Friday, July 25, visitors to the outdoor pools will receive a “designated watcher” whistle—a symbolic reminder of the importance of assigning a responsible adult to watch children in a residential pool (while supplies last).

Finally, on Saturday, July 26, around 8:30 p.m. at the Saint-Jean-Baptiste pool, a short water safety video will be shown prior to the screening of the movie Moana 2.

Learning to Swim

Among drowning prevention measures, knowing how to swim remains an essential life skill. During the summer, the City offers swimming lessons at its outdoor pools. The fall session, held at the indoor pool, will begin on September 15 for adults and September 20 for children. Lessons are available for all ages and include the following lifesaving certifications: Rookie Patrol, Bronze Star, Bronze Medallion, Standard First Aid, and Swim Instructor.

Registration will take place on September 2 at 6 p.m. for residents, and September 4 at 9 a.m. for non-residents. The full program will be available online starting in August.