The Lifesaving Society presents its annual Water Smart® Award to an Affiliate Member of the Society for outstanding community service to drowning prevention education. The award recognizes Affiliate Members for promoting Water Smart activities/messages. The Water Smart Award is presented at an awards ceremony following the Society's Annual General Meeting.
Eligibility: All Lifesaving Society Ontario Affiliate Members in good standing are eligible.
What to submit: The submission process is easy and you may find you're simply highlighting work you are already doing. But it is important that you track, document and send examples of the work that you've done to demonstrate your accomplishments.
Affiliates who have won the Water Smart Award in the past have included some or all of the following:
- New innovative ideas incorporating key drowning prevention messages
- Messages delivered throughout the year
- Messages delivered to the public outside the aquatic setting
- Use of community partners
- Proclamation by the Mayor for National Drowning Prevention Week
- Local politian engagment and involvement
- Media coverage of your drowning prevention events
- A complete report including examples of the program (e.g., pictures, media clippings, new drowning prevention messages, videos)
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Don't wait for the submission deadline. Make your submission while the memories of your efforts are fresh. We look forward to receiving your submission.
Submission process
- Complete the Water Smart Submission Package.
- Attach examples and submit to the Lifesaving Society by: January 31, 2025.
- Forward submissions to the attention of Research Officer Lisa Hanson Ouellette by:
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email
- fax (416-490-8766)
- mail (Lifesaving Society, 400 Consumers Road, Toronto, Ontario M2J 1P8).
Need Inspiration? Here are some ideas from past submissions
- The City of Ottawa made and distributed a 16-page colouring book to summer camps, pools, community centres, and more.
- The City of Ottawa had water safety ambassadors visit aquatic venues to share messaging with the public as well as provide safety kits, literature, and activities.
- The City of Burlington held a free virtual backyard pool safety clinic where homeowners could learn how to prevent injury, assess an emergency, and learn basic water rescue skills/first aid.
- Several communities held lifejacket clinics for the public.
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- The Town of Wilmot held a colouring contest, and the City of St. Catherines held a drawing contest, each with water safety themes and prizes.
- Several communities engaged with their residents and local politicians on social media and shared water safety/drowning prevention messages, and not just during NDPW.
- The City of Burlington started a lifejacket lending program through their library system.
- The City of Burlington offered free Swim to Survive programs during public swims.
For more information and ideas, please contact Bianca Fazzari.