Eleven, including youth, rescued from West Vancouver waters after canoe overturned

WEST VANCOUVER — RCMP in British Columbia say officers deployed in Metro Vancouver waters in support of the FIFA World Cup were diverted to help rescue 11 people, including several youth, from an overturned canoe on the weekend.

Police say in a release that officers patrolling Burrard Inlet were notified Sunday afternoon that a canoe overturned in the waters off Ambleside Beach in West Vancouver.

Four marine tactical vessels responded and found people in the water clinging to the overturned canoe, although some were having difficulty staying afloat.

Police say a diver had to enter the water to help in the rescue, while confirming no one was trapped under the canoe.

All 11 people were eventually pulled from the water, and there were no major injuries, despite some suffering from exposure.

Police are reminding people planning to go on the water this summer to have the appropriate safety equipment, including life-jackets and to be aware of changing sea conditions.

The marine rescue happened about a week after a charter boat sank off Richmond, B.C., where seven of its 10 occupants died, and police have said that none of those people were wearing life-jackets.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 8, 2026.

The Canadian Press