A red maple leaf.

Drowning Prevention Research Centre Canada

DPRC is the lead agency for drowning and water-incident research in Canada. The Centre conducts research into fatal and non-fatal drowning, significant aquatic injury and rescue interventions.
Aerial view of a person in a red canoe paddling along a dark, calm river, with a forested shoreline visible to the left.

May 2026 notice: some of the links to these reports are currently broken as the National branch updates their website. Please contact us if you want one of these reports.

 

DPRC provides data to organizations involved in water safety, drowning prevention, and search and rescue. DPRC data assists policy and decision-makers, researchers, academics, advocates and the media. Clients include:

  • Canadian Safe Boating Council – DPRC data helps the CSBC to define key boating safety problems and issues that need to be addressed in Canada.
  • The Lifesaving Society – DPRC research and analysis support evidence-based water-rescue training and drowning prevention education. DPRC data allows the Society to produce national, provincial and regional drowning reports.
  • Transport Canada – DPRC produced a bilingual written report in 2022 on recreational boating-related fatalities in Canada (2008–2017) with data from its drowning database.

Recreational boating-related fatalities

The DPRC provided Transport Canada with a written report and corresponding map on recreational boating-related fatalities in Canada (2008–2017) with data from its drowning database. Findings in the report significantly contribute to our knowledge about recreational boating-related injuries and will assist local communities, governments and law enforcement in developing targeted initiatives to reduce boating fatalities.

Total incidents

1
150
220
300
RECREATIONAL BOATING-RELATED FATALITIES IN CANADA, 2008-2017
DÉCÈS ASSOCIÉS À LA NAVIGATION DE PLAISANCE AU CANADA DE 2008 À 2017