River safety tips for Saskatoons long weekend [Video]

With a summer long weekend approaching, Saskatoon residents are lucky to have a river running through the city to enjoy a variety of activities.

But whether you’re in a canoe, a kayak, on a paddleboard, or a boat, different vessels on a small waterway make safety a concern.

“Traditionally it’s busier in the summer,” said deputy chief of operations and communications with the Saskatoon Fire Department, Rob Hogan. “Obviously as the days turn nice like today, we’re going to see more people, more activity. Especially because it’s a long weekend, we’ll see more activity. So we just prepare like we normally would throughout the year.”

A City of Saskatoon bylaw prohibits swimming in the river and has designated areas for motorized, non-motorized vessels, and areas where boats are not allowed.

But Prairie Lily captain Mike Steckhan says it can be difficult to know where the zones end when you’re on …