BCLSS Loonie News

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BCLSS Loonie News May 2020 View this email in your browser

BCLSS Volunteer Insurance  BCLSS is updating our Safety Program and related insurance policy. We are now required to provide the ages of volunteers to our new insurer in order to receive comprehensive coverage. If you are currently a BCLSS member and volunteer for our BC Lake Stewardship and Monitoring program and did not receive our email on May 5 regarding updating your information, please contact the BCLSS office so that we can ensure you are added to the policy.   Safe Boating Awareness Week May 16-22 Since 1995, Safe Boating Awareness Week has been the mainstay of boating safety to over 16 million people who recreate on Canadian waters. Due to Covid-19, this campaign will be a little different in many ways. Please see the Canadian Safe Boating Council website for the Safe Boating Awareness Week messages. Please also refer to the Government of Canada's Physical Distancing for Canadian Boaters. Lifejackets and Boating Safety Did you know that May 14 was National Lifejacket Day? The Canadian Red Cross urges lifejacket use for all boaters as every year, 161 Canadians drown while boating. Of these, 87% are not wearing a lifejacket or do not have it properly secured. Before heading out on a boat, ensure that all persons on board - even strong swimmers - are outfitted with a correctly sized lifejacket appropriate to the activity. Be aware of and monitor the weather and water conditions, be prepared to head to the nearest point of safety if the conditions change, never consume alcohol before or during a boating outing, and ensure boaters know how to safely operate and load the vessel. More information on boating safety and how to choose a lifejacket or PFD can be found here. Announcements and Reminders The BCLSS is pleased to announce that our annual conference will be held in partnership with Lake Windermere Ambassadors (LWA) and Living Lakes Canada (LLC) in Invermere. This year, the theme is All Hands on Deck - Lake Stewardship in Climate Challenged Times. The event will be held at Windermere Community Hall from October 2-4, 2020. Keynote speaker will be Bob Sandford, Chair in Water and Climate Security at the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health. Please note that the Conference Committee is monitoring public health information during this pandemic as it may affect the conference. If the conference is postponed, we will provide an update on our website and in future newsletters. More information to follow.   News and Information Salmon Respond to Earth's Magnetic Field, And We Might Finally Know How The ability to detect our planet's magnetic filed and use it as a map while migrating, homing, or hunting could well be one of the most remarkable feats of evolution, and it's also one of the most mysterious. New Canada Water Agency to provide solutions for emerging water crisis - expert panel The new Canada Water Agency - a mandated commitment of the federal government - will provide much-needed solutions to the emerging water crisis, according to Tom Axworthy, chair of a national water policy panel organized by Global Water Futures (GWF) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).

Not a member of the BCLSS yet? Please consider joining our network of lake stewards! For more information on the benefits of membership, please visit our website. Thank you to LUSH for funding the BC Lake Stewardship Engagement Initiative.  The BCLSS gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Government of British Columbia through the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.