Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty presents the RLS's Commonwealth President's Award to City of Prince Albert Aquatics staff Nachelle Spademan, Karli Hufnagel, Lauren Haubrich (Aquatics Recreation Programmer), Kaley Georget and Curtis Olsen (Recreation Coordinator). (submitted/City of Prince Albert) 

By paNOW Staff

lifesavers

P.A. wins royal accolade for drowning prevention

Nov 30, 2019 | 10:00 AM

The City of Prince Albert has won a royal accolade regarding its outstanding efforts in drowning prevention.

The city received the Commonwealth President’s Award Thursday, presented by the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, Russ Mirasty, on behalf of HM The Queen, patron of the Royal Lifesaving Society (RLS). It’s only the second time the award has gone to a Saskatchewan organization.

The honour is also recognition of Prince Albert’s more than 50-year affiliation with the Royal Lifesaving Society.

“We take great pride in the professional development of our aquatics staff and that safety message gets spread on to the community so it’s an important investment,” Jody Boulet, the city’s director of community services told paNOW. He added the sort of drowning prevention initiatives offered were useful well beyond the local swimming pools.

“It’s also for when [the public] are attending some of the great lakes we have in the region, and any time you’re around a body of water being mindful of certain activities. Being safe in and on the water is a very important topic.”

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Prince Albert has a number of trained staff at its Frank J. Dunn Pool and Kinsmen Water Park facilities and they work year-round to advocate for safety and drowning prevention. In the summer months the Water Park offers the public many educational activities to promote drowning prevention.

“Prince Albert are one of the most active affiliates [of the society] in Saskatchewan and are very supportive when it comes to drowning prevention initiatives and public education,” Shelby Rushton with the Lifesaving Society-Saskatchewan Branch said.

The city’s aquatics recreation programmer Lauren Haubrich was also recognized for her leadership and ambassadorial role for the Lifesaving Society and recently presented at an international drowning prevention conference in South Africa.

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panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow