July 15th -21st is National Drowning Prevention Week put on by the Lifesaving Society, and it's also an event that's been proclaimed provincially in Saskatchewan.

Drowning is the third-leading cause of unintentional death for Canadians under 60 years old, with nearly 500 Canadians dying from it annually, according to a release from the Saskatchewan government.

The Lifesaving Society is focusing on several things, including swimming and boating sober.

Lifesaving Society branches in Saskatchewan and BC have both been vocal about keeping marijuana use separate from swimming and boating, with legalization set for October 17th.

Males are most at risk of drowning, with over 80 per cent of victims being men. Those between the ages of 20 to 34 are increasingly liable to drown.

Yesterday morning Saskatchewan RCMP sent a release stating that a 70-year-old man from Hatchet Lake First Nation drowned yesterday after a boat capsized on Wollaston Lake in northeastern Saskatchewan. That came after former NHL goalie Ray Emery drowned after taking a swim in Hamilton, Ont. Sunday morning at age 35.