As Saskatoon heads into a long stretch of hot weather, people and their pets will be looking for places to cool down.
Deputy Chief of Operations and Communications for the Saskatoon Fire Department Rob Hogan says the river should not be one of them. He says bylaw 4437 is in place to prohibit people from swimming in the river for a reason. The river current can shift the sand rather quickly. Where there might have been a sandbar one day, it could be missing the next. He adds that the fire department has had to rescue people who’ve lost their footing while swimming in the river.

Hogan adds that when it comes to pets, they should be closely monitored, as some are better swimmers than others. Pet owners should not put themselves at risk of having to rescue their pets. There are many parks, pools, spray parks, and shaded patios in Saskatoon that are a great alternative for keeping cool this summer. However, Hogan encourages those who are planning to swim in the river to let someone know where they are going, to have a charged cellphone, and to never go alone.