Armed with a bright yellow paddle board and a mission to educate, Nathan MacIntyre set out from Port Stanley Tuesday morning on a 35-kilometre journey across Lake Erie to Port Burwell.
The endurance paddle, expected to take 6 to 8 hours, is part of MacIntyre’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness about rip currents through his recently developed non-profit, the Rip Current Information Project.
“This isn’t just for me—it’s about helping all of us understand what’s really going on in our Great Lakes,” said MacIntyre before launching. “Right now, a lot of the safety information on beaches is outdated or inaccurate, and that needs to change.”
MacIntyre, who began lifeguarding at Port Stanley Beach in 1998 after the drowning of a friend, spent nearly two decades responding to emergencies and advocating for better public education.
He founded the Rip Current Information Project to bridge the gap between scientific research and public understanding, especially when it comes to rip currents—a key hazard on freshwater beaches.
Today’s “Paddle the Ports” is symbolic and strategic: a visual statement of commitment wrapped in a physical feat, made possible with the support of a safety team.
myFM caught up with the team during the paddle on Tuesday, with Ruddle sharing results from the first 2 hours of the journey.
He notes that it’s been a relatively calm day on the water, ideal conditions for this type of endeavor. In terms of what they’ve run into along the way, Ruddle had this to say.
As we wrapped up our conversation from the middle of Lake Erie, Ruddle took the time to share some important reminders with the community.
Updates on today’s journey and further information on rip currents can be found through the Rip Current Information Project.
Written by: Kennedy Freeman
