Blue Flag: Cleanest Beaches and Marinas in Canada

Swim Drink Fish has announced the list of beaches and marinas that have earned this year’s prestigious Blue Flag Canada award.

Credit: Matthew Hewitson/Tourism New Brunswick

Blue Flag is an international award for beaches and marinas that meet high environmental, safety, and cleanliness standards.

Among the 2024 Blue Flag beaches and marinas, twenty-three are in Ontario, two are in New Brunswick, and one is in Nova Scotia.

Swim Drink Fish administers the Blue Flag program in Canada and is one of 51 National Operators in the Blue Flag International network.

To be certified, “A Blue Flag beach must have at least one sampling point, which must be located where the concentration of bathers is highest. In addition, where there are potential sources of pollution, e.g. near streams, rivers or other inlets, stormwater outlets, etc. additional sampling points must be established at these sites to provide evidence that such inflows do not affect bathing water quality. The beach must comply with the Blue Flag requirements for the microbiological parameter Escherichia coli (fecal coli bacteria) and intestinal enterococci (streptococci).”

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Swim Drink Fish says Grand Bend Beach in Ontario exemplifies excellence with its vast freshwater sand dune ecosystem—one of North America’s finest. Here, Lambton Shores and Lake Huron Coastal Centre champion sustainable recreation and lead impactful plastic and litter reduction initiatives through community engagement and educational efforts, highlighting the strength of collective environmental stewardship.