‘It’s tragic’: 2 toddlers drown in lake on Manitoba First Nation
Posted August 13, 2026 10:17 am.
Last Updated August 13, 2026 4:29 pm.
Police say two toddlers – brothers aged one and two – drowned on a First Nation northeast of Winnipeg on Wednesday afternoon.
Island Lake RCMP say the boys were found by a family member in a lake on Garden Hill Anisininew Nation. They were brought to a nursing station by safety officers, where they were pronounced dead.
Foul play is not suspected, as investigators believe the boys left their home and entered the water.
“Any time someone passes away and it’s unexpected, it’s tragic. Children are way worse,” said Sgt. Chris Hipolito of the Island Lake RCMP detachment.
Hipolito says police were called around 1:30 p.m. after a family member noticed the boys were missing and followed their path out the back of the home towards the lake.
“The report that came in was that two children were brought into the nursing station and that they had apparently drowned. So we attended right away,” the sergeant said.
Hipolito says the family’s home backs onto the lake, estimating just 15 to 20 feet between the door and the water. Police don’t know exactly when the children left the home or entered the lake, but believe the brothers were alone.
“They want to have some fun or maybe they want to go in the water or whatnot, and then they ended up in the water. So how they got there, just kids being kids, I guess. Summertime up at Garden Hill, the weather is really nice. So they live right on the lake in the community there. So they back right onto the lake. So it’s not far for them to go.”
Sgt. Hipolito says water levels are about two feet higher than last year, but police can’t say whether that played a role.
“I’ve been in touch with the chief a couple times today,” he said. “I know he’s at a camp right now, but I’ll be following up with him. I know the members are going to follow up with the family and even with the nursing station stuff, they’re aware. And any time there’s a death like this in the community, it impacts people in a different way.”
CityNews reached out to Garden Hill Chief and Council for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Mounties are continuing to investigate.
Garden Hill Anisininew Nation is about 600 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.
