There’s new signage coming to the Halifax Waterfront.
Signage warning the public to “swim at your own risk” is being installed, after videos have gone viral online, showing people swimming off the recently-opened Queen’s Landing stairs.
The stairs were added to the waterfront in fall 2021, after several focus groups indicated people like being able to interact with the water, said Marketing and Communications Director of Develop NS, Deborah Page.
Develop NS is the corporation responsible for maintaining the area.
@angiealltheway_40 I think we have a new trend, Halifax! What do you think? Is it clean enough after all? Trust? #halifax #halifaxnoise #halifaxwaterfront #halifaxpier ♬ Barrett’s Privateers – Album Version – The Irish Descendants
But, Page said, people swimming at the waterfront isn’t new, and didn’t begin when the steps were erected. It’s been happening all across the waterfront for years, she said.
@owen_kiley07 Posting this again because tiktok took it down at 15k views. Done by trained professionals on a closed course do not try at home #halifax #halifaxns #halifaxpier #halifaxnoise #halifaxwaterfront ♬ Barrett’s Privateers – Album Version – The Irish Descendants
“There’s just way more people downtown, way more people living downtown, it’s happening more often,” She said. “So, we thought, we’ll just put up signs … all the way down the waterfront.”
The steps also undergo regular cleaning through all four seasons, Page said.
“The steps are power washed every two weeks, including in the winter, which helps keeps any buildup of algae or slipperiness off them. So they are very well maintained.”
Signage is expected to be up Monday, Page said.
“People love to interact with the water. We know that it’s going to happen, while we’re not actively encouraging it, we just wanted to make sure that people are making good decisions.”
@johnvangurp Checking out the new steps into Halifax Harbour #halifax #queensmarque #mywaterfront ♬ original sound – John van Gurp
Develop NS will continue to take safety in stride, Page said, with no other current plans to address public safety on the steps.
