Alberta Parks is reminding people to wear a lifejacket on lakes and rivers this summer, saying it could save your life.
Officials warn that while the weather is hot, many bodies of water in the province remain dangerously cold, and falling in can lead to hypothermia within minutes.
The reminder comes after a series of tragic incidents in southern Alberta. A search is underway on Upper Kananaskis Lake for two people missing after a canoe carrying four overturned Tuesday afternoon. Bystanders were able to rescue two, but a man and a woman, both in their 30s, remain unaccounted for.
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At Barrier Lake, the body of a 32-year-old Calgary man was recovered last week following a canoe capsize on August 16 that also left a 60-year-old man dead and a 56-year-old woman hospitalized with hypothermia.
And in Calgary, the bodies of two men were pulled from Mahogany Lake on Wednesday evening after witnesses saw them struggling in the water.
Officials say lifejackets should be worn during all water activities, not just by boaters, but also by swimmers, children, and even pets, as the consequences of being unprepared can be fatal.