What began as a pleasant morning of fishing on Lake Margaret this past Labour Day quickly turned tragic when a canoe holding three friends tipped over.
Two people were rescued, however, after a day-long search, the body of 26-year-old Ryan Davies was recovered.
The St. Thomas Fire Department’s water rescue unit was on the scene supplemented by the OPP underwater rescue unit.
Coast Guard officials arrived just before noon that day with sonar and submersible equipment to assist in what became a recovery operation.
St. Thomas Fire Chief Dave Gregory explained that the thick matted weeds under the surface of the water were making matters difficult.
Gregory advised at its deepest spot, Lake Margaret has a depth of about 20 feet.

That nightmarish incident spurred Davies’ mother, Linda King into action.
It is not believed they were wearing life jackets and so King wants to establish a life jacket loaner program.
“It’s really important to me with what happened with Ryan, I don’t want anything like this to happen again.
“And, unfortunately, from everything I’ve been hearing, life jackets are just not something that has been pushed.”

She would like to see the life jackets available in Port Stanley and at Lake Margaret and Lake Pinafore in St. Thomas.
“A few drownings here in Port Stanley over the summer as well. And I had heard there apparently was a life jacket loaner program here in Port Stanley.”
King – a member of the Elgin County Drowning Prevention Coalition – explains how the program would operate and why such an initiative is needed near beaches and on lakes.
“From what I’m understanding and, again, I’m doing research on this but you would need people to go and make sure that the life jackets are in good working condition and that they are not worn or ripped and then the kiosk gets set up.”
She has not met with the Municipality of Central Elgin yet to discuss such a loaner program.
“I’m really just starting with this and I am trying to figure out how much I am doing on my own (versus working in conjunction with the Elgin County Drowning Prevention Coalition).”
She advises almost 50 per cent of drownings occur in ponds or small bodies of water.
Meantime, Port Stanley sits beside a large body of water prone to rip currents.
Similar programs are being established elsewhere in the province, points out the Port Stanley resident.
“There are several places that have very successful life jacket loaner programs. They just put one in Port Elgin.

“The successful implementation of similar programs across the country should serve as encouragement and proof that this measure carries significant potential of saving lives.”

“The City of Oshawa just implemented one. Ontario Parks has one.
“When we have a huge beach, there shouldn’t be any reason (for not having a program).
“And with people drowning in a pond, why wouldn’t we have one at Lake Margaret?”
In July of 1925, what was known as the Swan Boat sank on Lake Pinafore resulting in the drowning deaths of seven children.
See the item below for the program launched last spring in Port Elgin.
King feels even smaller bodies of water merit such a program plus warning signs on the depth of the water.
“To provide more signage at Lake Margaret is a big thing that I want going at the boat launch at Pinafore Park and Lake Margaret.
“From what I was told by my son’s friends, none of them knew how deep it was.”
King would like to see a program in place for next year’s swimming and boating season.
This week she launched a petition urging local officials to implement a life jacket loaner program at Port Stanley Beach and Lake Margaret.
“By making life jackets freely available for anyone who needs them, we can significantly reduce the risk of water-related tragedies.
“The successful implementation of similar programs across the country should serve as encouragement and proof that this measure carries significant potential of saving lives.”
As of Friday evening, 185 people had signed the petition.
It can be found at: https://chng.it/ZsFCLSDRGy

SAVING LIVES IN SAUGEEN SHORES

Last May, a $2,500 donation from the Society of United Professionals Bruce Power Local helped launch a life jacket loaner program at Port Elgin Main Beach.
Life jackets, ranging in size from kids to adults (XL), are available to borrow free of charge.
“This is a unique and exciting program that provides easy access to life jackets to the community and visitors who use the Port Elgin Main Beach,” noted Matt Barfoot, Unit 4 Director for the Society of United Professionals.

“Our region is fortunate to have access to all that Lake Huron has to offer, but with that comes significant water safety risks, which this program will help to lessen.”
The life jackets are regularly inspected by an aquatics team during the swim season.
The program was to be evaluated to determine whether it would be expanded to other recreational beaches in the future.
The Town of Saugeen Shores posted the following quick facts on life jacket usage.

• Wearing a lifejacket or PFD (personal floatation device) is the most effective way to reduce boating-related drownings in Canada.
• Wearing a lifejacket or a PFD can prevent 90% of boating-related drownings.
• Most people who drown are within 15 meters of safety.
• Lead by example and help make sure that all passengers on your boat have properly secured their lifejackets or PFDs.

BUDGET APPROVAL 

At Monday’s council meeting (Jan. 13), members will be asked to adopt the 2025 capital and operating budgets.
This will include gross expenditures of $39,608,172 for capital and $183,967,823 for operating.
The property tax levy is $72,964,325 up from $68,816,203 in 2024 or a 6.03 per cent increase.
As a result, the increase to the property tax levy this year will be 3.93 per cent, down from the proposed 4.93 through the use of reserve funds.

DANGER ON THE FRONTLINE

A troubling start to the new year for the St. Thomas Police Service.
On three consecutive days this past week, an officer was assaulted while responding to a call for service.
In one instance, an officer was punched in the face.
A release from the police service yesterday (Friday) noted, “This trend highlights the increasing risks faced by frontline officers as they work to protect our community.”
The release continues, “These incidents have occurred during routine calls including family disputes, unwanted persons and intimate partner violence calls where officers were providing assistance to the public.”
We have spoken with Chief Marc Roskamp on numerous occasions about his concern for the physical and mental well-being of all members of the police service.
In the release he advises, “Our officers put themselves in harm’s way every day to ensure the safety and well-being of our community.
“The rise in violence against our officers is unacceptable and deeply concerning. These incidents serve as a reminder of the dangers our members face, each and every day.”
In looking back over the past year, much of the dialogue has focussed on the rapid residential and industrial growth in St. Thomas.
Depending on your perspective, this growth generally is a positive and welcome sign in the evolution of our community.
However, this should not include an increase in the number of violent assaults against those who serve and protect our community.
We must strive to ensure this is an anomaly and not normalized behaviour moving deeper into the new year.

A RECORD-BREAKING YEAR FOR VW CANADA

Three or four years ago, news related to the fortunes of Volkswagen would have been of little relevance to area residents unless you had shares in the automaker.
That outlook changes significantly when Volkswagen subsidiary PowerCo affirms it will locate a massive EV battery gigafactory in your backyard.
And now, Volkswagen continually trends on the region’s economic radar.

So encouraging news at the end of the year from Vito Paladino, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group Canada and President of Audi Canada.
In a LinkedIn post earlier this month Paladino advised, “Twelve months ago, Volkswagen Group Canada set the goal of making 2024 a record year. While there will always be challenges and the demands of an industry transformation have certainly been significant, we remained focused, agile and united as one team.
“With the close of 2024, I’m very proud of our team’s determination in delivering the most successful year in our 70-plus year history in Canada;

– Volkswagen Group Canada’s best year ever in vehicle sales and after-sales

– Volkswagen brand’s best year ever in vehicle sales

– Audi remains the #1 premium passenger car brand in vehicle sales and best year in preowned sales

– Our super-performance brands, Lamborghini and Ducati launched new icons

– All brands achieved record performance in after-sales

– Record year for Volkswagen Group Financial Services

– We have progressed our strategic projects, customer excitement and future readiness initiatives

Wouldn’t it be uplifting at this time next year if Paladino’s message included a specific reference to PowerCo’s St. Thomas operation due to begin production in 2027?