Ontario Beach News
Beach News in Ontario provides up-to-date information on beach tips, beach links and beach listings. Links to beach events, beach festivals and beach entertainment can be found here.
Ontario Beach News 2012
Beach Ready? How about your legs?
The Globe and Mail offers up 5 ways to get your legs ready for summer and the beach.
All winter long you’ve been hibernating in your cozy home – and now, suddenly, the sun has returned. Those weeks and months of sitting on the couch, huddled under blankets, give way to the prospect – for some, the horror – of slipping on a pair of shorts. But don’t let the warm weather worry you. Fitness experts have weighed in to solve your woes. This five-point plan will prepare you for spring exposure. Pick your Ontario Beach Resort
Ontario Beach News July 2011
An unlikely Beach getaway destination: Oshawa, Ontario
NorthumberlandView.ca
This story is the second in a series about swimming in Lake Ontario. We hope you enjoyed this year's (2011) swimming season! Oshawa isn't typically associated ...
Simcoe, Grey and Bruce County Beach Resort Destinations
With over 89 beaches with public access located in the region just a short ... county beaches are considered the Florida of the north for Ontario beaches. ...Georgian Bay & Lake Huron have also garnered a world wide reputation with Blue Flag Beach Ratings again in 2011.
Blue Flag Status 2010 For Georgian Bay Lake Huron Beaches
 6 Georgian Bay-Lake Huron beaches and three Lake Huron marinas meet strict international standards for cleanliness and environmental management
North of Toronto Ontario, June 2010.......Six beaches and three marinas were awarded a Blue Flag on June 7, just in time for Ontario's summer vacation season. Environmental Defence made the awards to the beaches that maintain strict international standards to protect the environment. Blue Flag beaches must meet high standards for water quality, environmental education, environmental management, and safety and services.
"Behind each Blue Flag is a community of people who recognize the importance of protecting their beach and marina, for the benefit of the people who enjoy it and for the environment," said Sarah Winterton, Education and Outreach Director for Environmental Defence, the organization that runs the Blue Flag program in Canada. "We're so pleased to award Blue Flags to these outstanding beaches and marinas."
Lake Huron & Georgian Bay Ontario Beaches
Georgian Bay Ontario Beaches
Little River Beach Park and Northwinds Beach Park on Georgian Bay in the Town of the Blue Mountains (see Collingwood-Blue Mountains); and Wasaga Beach Provincial Park on Georgian Bay.....See more information on Wasaga Beach, quick links for Georgian Bay, and Georgian Bay Eco Museum.
Lake Huron Ontario Beaches
Grand Bend Beach, on Lake Huron in the Municipality of Lambton Shores;
Bayfield Main Beach on Lake Huron in the Municipality of Bluewater; Station Beach ( for the fourth year in a row). on Lake Huron in Kincardine; Sauble Beach, on Lake Huron in the Town of South Bruce Peninsula;
Three marinas, all on Lake Huron, also received a Blue Flag: Bluewater Marina; Grand Bend Marina; and Port Franks Marina.
If you do not live close to a Blue Flag Beach you can view more than 50 beach areas north of Toronto. See information on Ontario beach locations(not necessarily Blue Flag).
More than 3,400 beaches and marinas are certified under the Blue Flag program in 41 countries, including throughout Europe and in the Caribbean. Blue Flags have been awarded in Canada since 2003.
Beaches and marinas that want to receive a Blue Flag must apply each season. Independent juries of experts in Canada and internationally review each application and determine whether a marina or beach meets the standards for certification. Blue Flags can be removed during the season if a marina or beach fails to meet the required criteria.
More details about the Blue Flag program and the certified marinas and beaches can be found on the web site at www.BlueFlag.ca .
Environmental Defence is the Canadian Operator of the Blue Flag Program. Environmental Defence protects the environment and human health. We research solutions. We educate. We go to court when we have to. All in order to ensure clean air, clean water and thriving ecosystems nationwide, and to bring a halt to Canada's contribution to climate change. www.environmentaldefence.ca
The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization consisting of member organizations representing 58 countries in Europe, Africa, Oceania and America. FEE actively promotes and delivers education about the environment and sustainable development through international programs such as the Blue Flag Program.
www.fee-international.org
-30-
For more information, or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Jennifer Foulds, Environmental Defence, (416) 323-9521 ext. 232; (647) 280-9521 (cell)
Related News
Station Beach gets Blue Flag for fourth time
2009 News from
Blue Flag
 Is
your local beach or marina Blue Flag certified?
We wait a long time in most parts of this country for summer to arrive.
And when it does, we soak up the sun and warmth at our local beaches
and marinas - swimming, sunning, sailing, picnicking, playing, walking
and running. But which beaches and marinas stand out when it comes
to environmental protection and clean water for swimming?
That's where the Blue Flag comes in. It's a prestigious international
award for beaches and marinas that meet strict standards covering
water quality, environmental management, safety, services and environmental
education. In practice, this means clean water for swimming at beaches,
sustainably managed beaches and marinas, and safe access for all ages
and for people with disabilities. Community groups and municipalities
work together to make sure their local beach or marina meets the Blue
Flag standards.
We've been running the Blue Flag program in Canada for several years now.
 We
just announced the Blue Flag awards for this summer 2009:
- Three marinas are certified - the first marinas in all of North America.
- 11 beaches are flying Blue Flags.
- And seven more beaches are on the path to getting certified.
Check out the Blue Flag web site to find out which beaches and marinas are flying Blue Flags.
If you know a beach or marina in your community that should get
a Blue Flag? Let us know! Send
us your suggestion.
Ontario
Beaches North of Toronto certified world-class under Blue Flag program
 TORONTO,
June 5 2008 /CNW/ - Six beaches north of Toronto are being awarded the
international Blue Flag certification, Environmental Defence announced.
The beaches received the Blue Flag designation after meeting 27 strict
standards, covering everything from water quality, to environmental
management, to safety and services.
"We're very proud of these beaches that are joining thousands
of world-class beaches in receiving the Blue Flag award. Behind each
award is a community of people making a commitment to environmental
sustainability and best practices," said Sarah Winterton, Outreach
Director of Environmental Defence, which runs the Blue Flag program
in Canada.
This summer, Blue Flags will be flying at beaches on
Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, including. Georgian Bay beaches include
two beaches in the Town of the Blue Mountains (Little River Beach
Park, Northwinds Beach Park); Both beaches are near the town
of Collingwood. A third Georgian Bay Beach is Wasaga Beach in
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, in the town
of Wasaga Beach. Sauble Beach in the Town of South Bruce Peninsula;
Station Beach in Kincardine; Park; and, Rotary Cove Beach in Goderich.
"Goderich is very proud to fly the Blue Flag.
It's an emblem of safe, eco-friendly beaches, and something to trust,"
said Goderich Mayor Deb Shewfelt
 In
addition, Environmental Defence is awarding Candidate Blue Flag status
to three beaches: Main Beach in the Municipality of Central Elgin,
Canatara Park Beach in the City of Sarnia, and Main Beach, Grand Bend
in the Municipality of Lambton Shores. Beaches named as Candidate
Blue Flag beaches are in the process of full certification, and could
be flying a Blue Flag as early as next summer.
The 6 Ontario Blue Flag beaches north of Toronto join
more than 2,600 in 36 countries around the world. As part of the Blue
Flag requirements, beaches in Canada must meet Ontario's standards
for recreational water quality (the most stringent in North America)
at least 80% of the swimming season. Water quality test results for
each Blue Flag beach are available on Environmental Defence's Blue
Flag web site - www.BlueFlag.ca.
Beaches are certified by two independent juries - the
Blue Flag Great Lakes Regional Jury and the International Blue Flag
Jury. Blue Flags are awarded at the beginning of each swimming season.
Beaches can lose their Blue Flags during the season if they fail to
meet the required standards.
"With climate change, pollution and even urban
development threatening our beaches and coastal areas, the Blue Flag
is critical for making sure these precious places are protected now.
Having a clean beach on your doorstep is a tremendous benefit for
the whole community. We want to make sure they are there for generations
to come," said Winterton.
About Blue Flag (www.BlueFlag.ca):
The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), based in Denmark,
owns and operates the Blue Flag Program. Since 1987, Blue Flag has
grown to include more than 2,600 beaches in 36 countries. Environmental
Defence is the Canadian National Operator of Blue Flag. Our goal is
for beaches across Canada to meet national Blue Flag standards, ensuring
that Canadians enjoy clean beaches. Blue Flag Canada is supported
by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Government of
Ontario.
About Environmental Defence (www.environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental
Defence protects the environment and human health. We research solutions.
We educate. We go to court when we have to. All in order to ensure
clean air, clean water and thriving ecosystems nationwide, and to
bring a halt to Canada's contribution to climate change.
For further information: or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Jennifer Foulds, Environmental Defence, (416) 323-9521 ext. 232, (647)
280-9521
Beach Notes From the Publisher
As the Blue Flag designation is relatively new in Canada, there
are many 1000’s of Ontario Beaches that are perfectly clean
and healthy for swimming, even though they may not be flying a Blue
Flag Beach Designation. A number of Georgian Bay Beaches can be found
at Georgian
Bay Eco Museum Many additional Ontario Beaches north of Toronto
can be viewed at Ontario Public Beaches.
It is also important to note, the water at the healthiest of beaches
can sometimes be temporarily contaminated with exceptional run off
from heavy summer thunderstorms. Most municipalities will post signs
when it is not safe to swim in a designated beach area.
We encourage visitors to Ontario Beaches to become familiar with
good environment practices and develop a further understanding of
beach ecology. A good place to start
Learning how beaches interactive with our environment are on the Friends
of the Nancy Historical Site at Wasaga Beach section titled Beach
Environment.
|
Romantic 
