Loyalist Cove Marina receives Blue Flag designation

With another boating season about to set sail, a Kingston-area marina is boasting a new accreditation. The Loyalist Cove Marina in Bath is one of the 2021 Blue Flag Canada sites.

23 beaches and 10 marinas have earned the prestigious Blue Flag Canada certification this year. Blue Flag is an international award given to beaches and marinas that meet high environmental, safety, and cleanliness standards.

“It’s a pretty strict program to belong to, and to ensure you’re operating your marina in an environmentally-friendly fashion,” President of the Loyalist Cove Marina, Michelle Hinton, said.

Hinton added that quite a bit of work goes into making sure they’re able to qualify for the Blue Flag nod, such as making sure they’re using environmentally-friendly products whenever possible. Her marina offer eco-friendly options, such as bicycles for their patrons to use once they’ve docked their boat at the marina. It also means adhering to health and safety measures to ensure there are no unnecessary risks to the environment, something which allows her clients some added peace of mind, Hinton expressed.

“So, they know in their mind they can come to the marina and they know it’s safe,” she said.

This is the third year in a row as a Blue Flag Marina for Loyalist Cove. Hinton says there’s an extensive application process involved in securing the designation.

“It’s just doing the right thing. From a personal level, from a corporate level,” she said. “And we’re very proud to have that.”