Blue Flag designation
means it's one of the cleanest beaches in the world |
Sauble Beach happy to be blue
by Maria Canton, Sun Times Correspondent
Sauble Beach just saw its first weekend as an
internationally-recognized Blue Flag beach.
The flag, presented by Environmental Defence for a two-kilometre
stretch from the Crowd Inn restaurant north to the sixth street
washrooms, was hoisted above Sauble's sands during a ceremony
Friday, indicating the beach is among the cleanest, safest and
most environmentally sound in the world.
"We're happy to have been able to put the beach into this
position," Mayor Carl Nobel told a crowd of about 60 gathered on
the beach. "We can now tell people this is one of the top
beaches in the world and that it has met all of the Blue Flag
criteria."
Sauble Beach is the first beach on Lake Huron to receive a
Blue Flag, while several Toronto-area beaches have already
earned the eco-label.
The flag is an internationally recognized symbol given to
beaches that pass a battery of tests in the categories of water
quality, environmental education and management safety standards
and services.
The designation comes at a time when the Saugeen First Nation
is in mediation talks with the provincial and federal
governments to determine exactly who owns North Sauble Beach.
The municipality is represented by the province.
The new chief of the Saugeen First Nation, Randall Kahgee
Jr., was only brought up to speed on the Blue Flag award last
week after the original ceremony was postponed. Kahgee did not
attend Friday's event, but Noble said they have agreed to work
together to maintain the beach's new status.
According to Rick Smith, Environmental Defence executive
director, the co-operation and commitment by all sides has been
commendable.
"It's official today, Sauble Beach measures up to the best
beaches in the world," said Smith.
"There has been unprecedented commitment to this beach and an
unbelievable amount of work has been done to improve the beach."
Members of Friends of Sauble Beach were instrumental in
ensuring the environmental side of things was looked after. The
volunteer group has made protecting the sand dunes into 12
boardwalks or walkways providing environmentally friendly access
points to the beach.
They also install 2,000 metres of sand fence every winter to
help prevent erosion.
"Everything is done in accordance with our beach management
plan, which is a scientific plan we had drawn up by the Lake
Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation," said Mary Ransom, chair
of the Friends group.
And while the flag is a great source of pride for those who
worked to obtain it, people sunning themselves and strolling the
streets seemed oblivious to Sauble's newfound fame.
"I had no idea. I've been coming here since I was a baby and
I'll always come here, so I don't know if it makes a
difference," said Sherry Speakman.
"I've always said this was a beautiful beach, I guess it
gives us bragging rights."
Environment Defence monitored the beach for the last two
swimming seasons. The results of that process were submitted to
two juries — the Blue Flag Great Lakes regional jury and the
International Blue Flag jury — before the flag was granted to
Sauble Beach.
The Blue Flag is awarded for a one year period, after which
time a new application must be submitted to an international
jury for renewal.
Upwards of 2,500 beaches in Europe, South Africa and the
Caribbean have received a Blue Flag, including Laguna Beach in
the Dominican Republic and Port Antonio Marina Beach in Jamaica.