Back issues of Circle’s periodical newsletter (20 issues published between September 1999 and July 2003) are available here for download in pdf format. c!rcular was written for friends of Circle…
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Manitoba is a large province with more than 100,000 lakes, and beaches are an important feature of many of Manitoba’s 17 provincial parks. Swimming and wading on beaches and in designated swimming areas provides enjoyment for many of Manitoba’s 5 million park visitors annually. As part of its efforts to establish province-wide standards for Beach Safety within the provincial parks, Manitoba Conservation provides information in parks with non-staffed and remote beaches, and provides waterfront preventative and emergency information and care at several staffed locations.
Drownings are a fact of life, and more than a half million people worldwide die as a result of drowning each year. Statistically, there have been 32 swimming-related deaths in Manitoba parks in the past 20 years and while personal safety is ultimately the responsibility of the individual, many drownings are preventable. In this regard, clear information regarding Beach Safety and conditions of beach usage play an important part in preventing drownings and in contributing to the well-being and enjoyment of the public. Manitoba Conservation (the department responsible for Manitoba Parks) will now promote Beach Safety in provincial parks by means of consistent messaging on all beach signage and clear, consistent written information in brochures for general dissemination and for distribution to park visitors.
Responding to the client-expressed goal of preventing drownings, Circle undertook an extensive audit of compiled literature and information resources, reviewed best-practice examples of Beach Safety signs from around the world, prepared a comprehensive report, and then designed a cohesive set of Beach Safety icons and signage templates. This was followed up by the design of informative, bi-lingual, Beach Safety literature for both individual and group users of Manitoba s provincial park beaches. Following initial installation and testing at a single beach site in the summer of 2003, it is expected that new signage will be installed in all of the province’s major park beaches for the spring of 2004.
The Beach Safely signs were designed at Circle by Susan McWatt FitzGerald and Robert L. Peters, working in close collaboration with a sizable client committee. Circle is a Winnipeg-based design office and corporate communications consultancy, now in its 28th year. Circle provides strategic problem solving as well as graphic design and visual communication services and materials for a wide range of clients. For more information re: this design initiative, please contact Robert L. Peters via telephone at +1 204 943 3693.