(Unsplash photo)
An individual is facing charges after an incident on Golden Lake in North Algona-Wilberforce (NAW) Township.
On Saturday, May 17, around 10 p.m., members of the Upper Ottawa Valley (UOV) Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a call regarding a canoeist in distress on Golden Lake.
“The individual onboard did not have a life jacket, and the canoe began taking on water, eventually capsizing in high winds. Police arrived on scene and found the man had made it to shore along Island View Drive in NAW,” reads an OPP press release.
The canoeist was taken to hospital for assessment by Renfrew County Paramedics. As part of the investigation a Approved Screening Device was utilized, and further testing was conducted.
As a result, a 40-year-old man from the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation is charged with the following Criminal Code and Canada Shipping Act (CSA) offences: operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration 80mg plus; and operating a personal watercraft without required personal floatation device on board.
The accused had their driver’s licence suspended for 90 days, was released and is scheduled to appear in Pembroke court on June 16.
“Under the Criminal Code, it is illegal to operate a conveyance while impaired. Conveyance broadly means a motor vehicle, vessel, aircraft or railway equipment. A vessel encompasses all types of watercraft, regardless of whether they are motorized or not. This includes boats, canoes, kayaks and sailboats,” reads the release.
(Sherry Haaima)