For the fourth year, Plains Midstream Canada has supported the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority’s (SCRCA) Spring Water Awareness Program (SWAP) with a $5,000 donation. Held throughout the month of April, the program teaches students about the hazards of spring floodwaters.
“Through our annual Spring Water Awareness Program, we talk with students about the potentially dangerous conditions associated with streams and rivers during the spring, and provide them with safety guidelines,” explained Melissa Levi, Conservation Education Coordinator at the SCRCA.
Held virtually in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 edition was converted to a schoolyard program that reached over 1,000 elementary students throughout the St. Clair Region watershed.
The program focussed on the hazards associated with the cold, deep, and fast-flowing waters of the spring season. “It was such a nice change to meet with students face-to-face,” said Myra Spiller, Conservation Education/Community Partnership Technician with the SCRCA, “They were all engaged in the different experiments, activities, and games we did during the program, and I think they all left with a better understanding of why it’s important to stay away from our local waterways during the spring season.”
The 2022 program constituted the fourth straight year of support by Plains Midstream Canada which allows the SCRCA to offer the SWAP program free-of-charge.
“It’s important to us to contribute to causes and services which lead to stronger, safer and heathier communities where our employees live and work,” said Ian Forster, Community Relations Advisor at Plains Midstream Canada. “We are very proud to continue supporting SCRCA’s Spring Water Awareness Program. It’s fantastic to see the positive impact the program offers by educating kids about water safety and safe enjoyment of our region’s watercourses.”
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- Always tell an adult where you are going.
- Always have a friend with you, they can seek help if you get in trouble.
- Stay away from lakes, streams, ditches, and riverbanks – the water can be deep, fast flowing, and cold. It is extremely difficult to swim wearing winter clothing and these dangerous waters can quickly cause hypothermia.
- Never play around dam structures or culverts – they can have strong water currents that can be hard to escape.
- Never play near or on ice without adult supervision. Ice on rivers and lakes can be dangerous and unstable.
- If you have permission and are with a parent on or around water, wear a Personal Flotation Device – even adults should wear one.
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