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Beach News in Ontario provides up-to-date information and listings and below we have three press releases to view about Blue Flag Beaches: Blue Flag Beaches 2010, See Blue Flags 2009, and Blue Flags 2008. For detailed information on public beaches, and beach resort destinations north of Toronto...see Ontario Beaches.

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

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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

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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.

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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.