Paddlers accounted for nearly half of boating deaths in Ontario in last 5 years [Video]

As the boating season gets underway, police remind paddlers to stay safe.

Nearly half of all boating deaths in the last five years on Ontario Provincial Police patrolled waterways were paddlers, police said.

The OPP said 131 people lost their lives in boating incidents between 2020 and 2024—56 were paddlers.

Of those paddlers who died, 34 were canoeists, 17 were kayakers and five were using stand-up paddle boards, police said.

The data makes a compelling case for the value of wearing a lifejacket, the OPP said.

“It is virtually impossible to drown if you are floating in the water with a properly fitted lifejacket,” OPP said.

A lifejacket will keep your head above water even if you are rendered unconscious in a paddling or boating incident, police added.

Police said this is a particularly important message for paddlers or boaters who cannot swim, as a lifejacket is the one piece …