Moncton 
There is no dearth of beaches in New Brunswick, but if you are searching for a beach to go swimming with young kids without worrying about water quality, then two New Brunswick beaches were certified with ‘blue flag’ awards.
New Brunswick Tourism
Blue Flag is an international award given to beaches and marinas that meet high environmental, safety, and cleanliness standards.
In Canada, Swim, Drink, Fish, an environmental protection organization based in Toronto evaluates the beaches for ‘Blue Flag’ beach protection program which is chaired by the Foundation for Environmental Education, based in Copenhagen, Denmark.
This prestigious award is recognized globally as a fantastic achievement for any beach – as, in order to qualify for a Blue Flag, the beach has to undergo a stringent set of environmental tests in addition to “excellent bathing water quality.” There are over 30 criteria like
- The beach must comply with the Blue Flag requirements for the microbiological parameter Escherichia coli (faecal coli bacteria) and intestinal enterococci (streptococci)
- Dogs or pets other than assistance dogs are not allowed on a Blue Flag beach or in the Blue Flag area
- The beach and surrounding areas, including paths, parking areas, and access paths to the beach must always be clean and maintained.
Marinas are judged mostly on environmental factors, water management, energy consumption, health and safety issues, water treatment and waste disposal facilities.
In 2023, 29 beaches and marinas in Canada were awarded the coveted designation this year. This includes two beaches and one marina in New Brunswick.
The following places are now in an elite club of well-maintained bastions of environmentalism:
Aboiteau Beach
Credit: New Brunswick Tourism
Aboiteau Beach is located along the shores of the Northumberland Strait (150 All. du Parc, Cap-Pelé) – the cooler waters make it perfect for swimming on a hot summer day. There are a few beach-side amenities available, such as showers, a volleyball net, and a licensed restaurant. There are also public toilets and parking available. Aboiteau Beach is surrounded by marshland, and tourists are encouraged to walk along the 2.5km trail through the marshes to the beach. Aboiteau Beach is also wheelchair accessible, right down to the water.
In recent years, Aboiteau Beach has made great strides environmentally since it first bid for a Blue Flag in 2017. The wheelchair ramp to the water was one such change, but they didn’t stop there. The town of Cap-Pele, where the beach is located, conducted a variety of tests on water quality and ensured the protection of the sand dunes at the beach by conducting an environmental impact assessment and making changes accordingly.
Parlee Beach Provincial Park
Matthew Hewitson/ New Brunswick Tourism
Not far from Aboiteau Beach, lies Parlee Beach Provincial Park (45 Parlee Beach Rd, Pointe-du-Chêne). A summer tourist hotspot, Parlee Beach is the slightly bigger brother of Aboiteau, nestled along the Northumberland Strait. In contrast to Aboiteau, Parlee has some of the warmest swimming waters in the Strait. The beach also features a variety of sporting activities that take place throughout the summer. Just outside of the beach area, there are picnic areas, a restaurant, a canteen and a playground for kids. The beach also features a large, supervised swimming area.
Like Aboiteau Beach, Parlee Beach Provincial Park has undergone an overhaul in recent years to ensure water quality and water safety for swimming. They have also put in an accessibility ramp so that persons in wheelchairs can have just as much fun! Parlee Beach Provincial Park is one of New Brunswick’s busiest beach destinations all summer.
If one day is not enough for you, the park offers 210 groomed campsites.
Shediac Bay Yacht Club Marina – Blue Flag Marina
Shediac Bay Yacht Club Marina
Located not far from both Aboiteau and Parlee Beach, the Shediac Bay Yacht Club is a bustling boat-ridden hub. The club has the capability to house 175 boats, including sailboats and powerboats – up to 54 feet long. They also have seven water berths available for visitors to dock. The SBYC also offers a Sailing School for young boat fanatics, they also offer organized races, cruises and social events. The SBYC is open from Victoria Day till early October.
Remember, the awarding of Blue Flag designations means that beach and water protection is taken seriously in the province. But, if it has rained two days before swimming, the water quality is not guaranteed (regardless of certification anywhere in the world).
For a complete list of New Brunswick beaches, see the NB Tourism website.
