Community celebrates the Bell Park Main Beach Blue Flag award

Jun 26, 2015

For immediate release                                                                         Friday, June 26, 2015

 

To mark the beginning of the swimming season in Greater Sudbury, an official flag-raising event took place at the Bell Park Main Beach on Thursday, June 25, to celebrate the beach’s Blue Flag designation. 

The Blue Flag is a respected and recognized international eco-label for beaches, which is awarded based on 33 strict criteria in water quality, environmental education and management, and safety and services.  

“We are very proud to be first Blue Flag designated beach in northern Ontario,” said Ron Henderson, General Manager of Citizen and Leisure Services. “It demonstrates our commitment to clean, safe beaches for all of our residents to enjoy. The Blue Flag promotes tourism, health, environment, safety and sustainability in our community.”

The event featured an educational segment with Nick Benkovich, Director of Water and Wastewater Services for the City of Greater Sudbury, about drinking water source protection and the importance of protecting our lakes.  

The Blue Flag award is administered nationally by Environmental Defence and is managed internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). More than 4,000 beaches and marinas have been certified in 49 countries around the world, including across Europe, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, New Zealand, Brazil, Canada and the Caribbean.

"Behind each Blue Flag is a community of people who recognize the importance of protecting their beach for the benefit of the people who enjoy it and for the environment," said Brett Tryon, Blue Flag program manager, Environmental Defence. "We're so pleased to help raise the Blue Flag at Bell Park Main Beach for the first time.” 

In keeping with the theme of the Blue Flag, the City of Greater Sudbury Lake Water Quality Program and the Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance were at the Ramsey Lake Boat Launch for free boat cleaning demonstrations. The event raised awareness about aquatic invasive species and demonstrated how to properly clean, inspect and drain boats and trailers. 

For more information about Blue Flag, visit www.blueflag.ca.

For more information on City environmental initiatives, the Lake Water Quality Program or community beaches, please visit www.greatersudbury.ca.

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