TURKEY POINT The first Friday in June is when hundreds of area high school students skip classes and head to Norfolk County’s sandy shores.
“Everybody does it,” said Grade 13 student Jaxon Ferrell. “We can’t get in trouble, if everyone else is doing it.”
The annual beach day, as it’s called, has returned after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
It also has returned as an issue for school boards and police.
Dave Smouter, communications manager with the Grand Erie District School Board, said beach day is not a sanctioned event and is discouraged.
“We believe the best place for students to learn is in the classroom, and it is our expectation that that’s where they will be,” he said.
That’s a position shared by the Catholic school board.
“The day is a regular school day,” said Tracey Austin, communications manager at Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk Catholic District School Board.
“All students, unless excused by a parent/guardian, are expected to be at school. If they are not at school, they will be marked absent and our normal parent notification will take place,” she said.
“Student safety is a priority and all our schools follow a notification process when a student is absent without explanation.”
Some who gathered at the beach in Turkey Point said teachers plan their lessons around the day, expecting students not to attend.
A media release from Norfolk OPP said officers would prioritize their focus on unsafe activities, such as underage drinking, trespassing, property damage and driving while under the influence.
“The sun is shining and the beach is packed in @TurkeyPoint for the annual #BeachDay event that is well underway,” West Region OPP Acting Sgt Ed Sanchuk said in a social media post on Friday afternoon.
Sanchuk, who urged people to put their personal safety as a priority, said only minor incidents had been reported.
Jeff Pickersgill, superintendent at the Turkey Point Provincial Park, said there were few issues as of Friday afternoon.
“Overall, people have been very well behaved,” he said on social media. “We’ve had about a dozen tickets issued under the Liquor Licensing Control Act. Those offenses include having liquor in an open container on the beach and drinking underage.
Pickersgill said extra parks officers were on hand to patrol the beaches.
The sun is shining and the beach is packed in @TurkeyPointPP for the annual #BeachDay event that is well underway! Only minor incidents reported! The #OPP can’t be everywhere but we could be anywhere. Please #DontDrinkandDrive! @NorfolkCounty #NorfolkOPP ^es pic.twitter.com/kGnP8YXRn9 — OPP West Region (@OPP_WR) June 3, 2022