General

Survey will identify concerns about boating behaviour

Boat racing

At Cottage Life, we are constantly receiving letters from people looking for advice, and when it comes to advice on boating, it’s often about how to quiet them, make others drive slower, or just keep their distance.

While the Lifesaving Society has recorded a downward trend in boating fatalities over the past 10 years, OPP complaints about people’s boating behaviour are reportedly on the rise.

Currently, there is a group working to remedy the situation—at least in one region of cottage country. Earlier in June, Safe Quiet Lakes, a community organization committed to the sustainable enjoyment of the Muskoka area lakes, launched an online survey in an effort to identify the main concerns when it comes to boating in this central Ontario region.

“We want to hear from everyone who spends time on or near the lakes to learn what people care about most to help us make our lakes safer and quieter,” said Frances Carmichael, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Safe Quiet Lakes. “This survey will quantify and clearly identify where we need to do the most work.”

The Lake Activity Survey will be conducted by Erin Research, an award-winning national public opinion research firm. Open until July 10, 2013, the survey is available at www.safequiet.ca.