By Doug Harvey- portstanleynews.com

On June 23, 2010 Port Stanley's main beach truly shed its old dirty beach reputation as local officials proudly hoisted the coveted Blue Flag, international symbol of a clean, safe beach.

Blue Flag status for Port Stanley's main beach was a dream of our late mayor, Sylvia Hofhuis. Her husband, Dr. John Hofhuis, who was on hand today to hoist the flag in Sylvia's honour, said this dream came out of a visit the couple took to South Africa two and a half years ago. Demanding John take a picture of her in front of the Blue Flag sign the couple discovered on a little beach there, "that's going to be Port Stanley one of these days," she told him.

The Blue Flag Committee of David Marr (Central Elgin), Kim Saunders (Port Stanley BIA), Bev Walpole (Health Unit), Jennifer Dow (KCCA), Lloyd Perrin (Central Elgin), and Ron Richards (Central Elgin) worked very hard with Environmental Defence (the group which runs the Blue Flag program in Canada) over the past two years to bring Port Stanley's main beach up to the point where it could pass all of the 27 criteria required to achieve the Blue Flag status.

The Blue Flag is a well known, prestigious award that recognizes those beaches and marinas that have achieved international standards in water quality, environmental management, environmental education, and safety and services.

"There are 2,700 beaches and 600 marinas around the world certified to fly the Blue Flag. We have some of the best beaches in the world, and Ontario has one of the toughest water quality standards in the world which must be met 80% of the time to qualify for Blue Flag," said Sarah Winterton, Environmental Defence. Consistent water quality safe for swimmers was the biggest obstacle Port Stanley's beach had to overcome to qualify. "The Blue Flag award is valid for one season only. Renewing the award annually ensures that the beach maintains Blue Flag standards." all 33 Blue Flag Criteria

The entire Central Elgin Council (Marks, Marr, Rock, Martyn, Matthews, Carr and Reu), along with five Central Elgin senior staff (Perrin, Richards, Leitch, Larmour and Mathers), a representative from the Elgin Tourist Association, Karen Vecchio on behalf of Elgin-Middlesex- London MP Joe Preston, Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Steve Peters, members of Sylvia Hofhuis' family and media were present for this day's ceremonies.

"Joe always calls Port Stanley a little piece of heaven," said Karen Vecchio as she offered congratulations to the municipality on behalf of MP Joe Preston.
"We don't always get to see the results of the seed we plant," said MPP Steve Peters, "and this is a great seed Sylvia planted which brings world wide recognition to Port Stanley."

Blue Flag Committee member and Deputy Mayor David Marr said that going after the Blue Flag had been an interesting challenge in which he had received the full support of the committee, Council and staff. In honour of Sylvia's dream and contribution to the Blue Flag process, Marr invited Dr. John Hofhuis to help raise the new Blue Flag. "One of these days" has now arrived.