\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
![\"SUPPLIED](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/4420929_web1_260721-Usaid-Habib-0001.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
SUPPLIED<\/p>\n
Usaid Habib, 12, drowned at Nutimik Lake in 2023. His father is calling for safety measures, including fencing, anti-slip strips and a lifeguard.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a lot of beautiful parks and spaces, but to flag any areas that could need greater improvements for safety, and so we\u2019re going to take a really comprehensive approach to ensuring that Manitobans can enjoy nature, but do it in a way that\u2019s safe,\u201d Moyes said Thursday.<\/p>\n
The province did an assessment of Sturgeon Falls, located on a narrow section of water between Nutimik and Numao lakes on the Winnipeg River system, after the tragedy Saturday.<\/p>\n
The minister said he will review the report. The trail leading to the falls is closed until improvements are made, which Moyes said could be done \u201creally quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n
The minister said the province could look at improving signage and barriers at high-risk areas near the falls. The assessment will extend to other areas in the province.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t want to see tragedies taking place. We want people to enjoy the outside and nature, and all the beautiful spots around our province,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Premier Wab Kinew said the province has a responsibility to keep residents safe and will ensure his colleague follows up on the assessment.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t SUPPLIED<\/p>\n Rescue teams recovered the body of 13-year-old Aaron Au Ramirez Thursday evening. The body of his younger brother, Maximo, was found Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n The father of a boy who drowned in Nutimik Lake three years ago said this tragedy has brought back painful memories.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been very challenging and sad to see another family suffering the same thing which we suffered a few years ago,\u201d said Muhammad Danish Habib, whose 12-year-old son, Usaid Habib, drowned in the same spot in 2023.<\/p>\n Usaid was camping with his parents and three brothers when he slipped off the rocks and into the water, which is known by locals to be fast-moving and deep. His body was recovered two days later.<\/p>\n Danish Habib called for safety improvements, including fencing, anti-slip strips and a lifeguard during the summer when the number of campers and hikers increases.<\/p>\n \u201cSo no other family has to suffer what we suffered,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t In 2025, the body of 38-year-old Harpreet Kaur Girn was recovered from the lake after she slipped off the rocks and was swept away by the current.<\/p>\n Introducing safety measures in natural environments can be a complicated issue due to erosion, a lack of supervision and user neglect, said an aquatic safety expert who conducts risk management services.<\/p>\n Chris Love, who formerly led the Lifesaving Society of Manitoba and now owns Wavecrest Aquatics, said governments must have a basic consideration for the safety of trail and beach users, but the province\u2019s network is vast and sprawling.<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t \u201cYou\u2019d be considering fencing off millions of miles of shoreline, which is not feasible financially,\u201d he said. \u201cSo you have to balance things at the end of the day, which means you have to look at what are your highest risks, where you\u2019re going to get the most amount of contact and focus on those.\u201d<\/p>\n Beaches and well-used hiking trails, as well as areas where fatalities have occurred should be part of the assessment, Love said.<\/p>\n He said users need to have more access to information and education that would help them navigate unfamiliar and potentially risky areas.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t RUTH BONNEVILLE \/ FREE PRESS<\/p>\n The path leading to Sturgeon Falls has closed until improvements are made.<\/p>\n An expansion of provincial beach safety and life-jacket loan programs would prove valuable, Love said.<\/p>\n nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Nicole Buffie Nicole Buffie is a reporter for the Free Press city desk. Born and bred in Winnipeg, Nicole graduated from Red River College\u2019s Creative Communications program in 2020 and worked as a reporter throughout Manitoba before joining the Free Press newsroom as a multimedia producer in 2023. Read more about Nicole<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Nicole produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Multimedia producer
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n