News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Parlee Beach Provincial Park and the Shediac Bay Yacht Club received the Blue Flag designation today from Environmental Defence, a national charitable organization committed to protecting the environment and human health.

This is the third site in the province to receive the designation, including Aboiteau Beach in Cap-Pelé which earned the international eco-certification last year.

“Our government is proud of this designation because Parlee Beach is a major tourism draw for New Brunswick and one of North America’s finest beaches,” said Tourism, Heritage and Culture Minister Robert Gauvin. “We look forward to the 2019 season, confident that we will be offering visitors an excellent experience to the standards they would expect from a Blue Flag-designated beach.”

In order for a beach to be awarded a Blue Flag, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained.

“When you see a Blue Flag flying at a beach or marina, you know that it is clean, safe and sustainably managed,” said Environmental Defence Water Programs manager Kelsey Scarfone. “These world-class beaches and marinas have worked hard to achieve the standards set by this prestigious award, and we are proud to recognize that accomplishment today.”

The Blue Flag is administered in Canada by Environmental Defence and is managed internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education. In Canada, 28 beaches and 12 marinas received the Blue Flag in 2019. More than 4,000 beaches and marinas in 45 countries fly the Blue Flag.