Newcomers 'most at risk' for drowning, but Sask. organization trying to change that

Saskatchewan has recorded an average of 27 water-related deaths every year over the last decade. Some newcomer-led organizations are trying to bring that number down.

The Saskatchewan Coroners Service pools all water-related deaths together. While it doesn't specifically track drowning deaths, it said most water-related deaths are caused by drowning.

The Regina Open Door Society said it's trying to improve swimming skills one young newcomer at a time.

Victoria Flores, manager of communications and marketing with the society, said swimming is a rite of passage and a life skill.

"It was a really great way to get that initiative started and we're really excited to not only run it now, but continue to do it and grow this initiative," Flores said.

Victoria Flores, manager of communications and marketing with the society, said it’s difficult for newcomers to navigate through the different facilities available to them in relation to swimming. (Laura Sciarpelletti/CBC)

According to the Coroners Service, Saskatchewan recorded 35 water-related fatalities in 2022 — the most since at least 2013. There were 21 in 2023 and, as of Friday, two in 2024. The service noted that these numbers could increase, as some investigations are pending.

The Saskatchewan Coroners Service said it does not track water-related fatalities by immigration or citizenship status.

Shelby Rushton, CEO of Lifesaving Society's Saskatchewan branch, said the organization's research shows newcomers who've been in Canada for less than five years are at the most risk for drowning.

Rushton said that's possibly because some recent immigrants come from countries that might not have potable water to swim, or where taking swimming lessons might not be a norm.

"It's a huge concern for us and we have identified it as a priority," she said.

Lifesaving Society of Saskatchewan chief executive officer Shelby Rushton said newcomers who’ve been in Canada for less than five years are at the most risk for drowning. (CBC)

The Lifesaving Society now does its pamphlets and educational materials in different languages to reach a new audience.

"There's so many new people coming to our country, which is great, but we do want to keep them safe and we do want them to enjoy our lakes and our rivers and our swimming pools," Rushton said.

A 2024 Drowning Report by the Lifesaving Society showed more than 99 per cent of drowning deaths in Saskatchewan were at a site that didn't have a lifeguard.

Saskatchewan lakes and other bodies of water, more often than not, aren't actively supervised or have lifeguards, Rushton said.

The Regina Open Door's swimming lessons started on July 3, and will have their final session on Saturday. The program was open to all newcomers aged 13 to 24. Flores said it can difficult for newcomers to navigate through the different facilities available to them.

"Once you're new to a place, getting to know everything that's available to you is one of those tough things with settlement," she said.

Flores said the takeaway is not just the skill.

"You make friendships. You have that sense of accomplishment of coming to a space where you didn't know how to do something and then you leave with a brand new skill," she said.

Myriam Mostafa was a competitive swimmer in Dubai before coming to Canada. Now, she’s been teaching youth to swim through the program. (Submitted by Victoria Flores)

Flores said immigrants come to the country with widely varying levels of comfort in the water — from those stepping into a swimming pool for the first time to professional-level swimmers.

Myriam Mostafa belongs to the latter group. She was a competitive swimmer in Dubai before coming to Canada. Now she's been teaching youth to swim through the program.

Mostafa said she almost drowned at the beach in a high tide when she was younger.

"I wanted to be able to have people learn the skills so that they didn't go through the same thing — the panic, the fear," she said.