Manitoba to install fencing at provincial park following recent drownings

The Manitoba government has announced plans to install fencing and other safety enhancements at Whiteshell Provincial Park in response to the recent drowning deaths of two young brothers. Aaron and Maximo Au Ramirez, aged 13 and 10, were swept into fast-moving rapids leading into Nutimik Lake earlier this month.

Environment Minister Mike Moyes stated that the planned updates to the site will include the construction of a fenced viewing area and the replacement of outdated signage. Notably, existing signage at the location was installed in 2023 after a previous drowning incident involving a 12-year-old boy named Usaid Habib.

Moyes indicated that the government's action follows a comprehensive safety assessment of high-risk trails throughout the province. He ordered this assessment to be completed immediately after the latest tragedy. The province is currently reviewing the findings to determine if further safety measures are required at other locations within its more than 90 provincial parks.

The decision comes amid ongoing concerns about water safety in the region. The family of Usaid Habib, who drowned in the same park in 2023, has spoken out about the tragedy, emphasizing the need for preventative measures.

“

A tragedy