1954 Lake of Two Mountains boating accident

Location of the Lake of Two Mountains.

The 1954 Lake of Two Mountains boating accident occurred July 13, 1954 on the Lake of Two Mountains off of Montreal's West Island. A motorboat carrying 17 children capsized and 12 children died.[1] The children, part of the Negro Community Centre of Montreal, were between the ages of 6 and 11 and most did not know how to swim.[2] It is one of the worst boating accidents in Canadian history and is commemorated each year by community members.[3] A memorial for the deceased children was announced in 2024. Denzil Alleyne, Margo and Marilyn Fonseca, Brenda Kelly, Carol Leek, Alan Leek, Paula Millington, Leon Nealey, Edwin and Diane Springer, Doreen Walton, and Estelle Walton were the 12 drowning victims.[4] The deceased children have been referred to in the press and by community members as "the Twelve" since the accident.[5]


References

  1. ↑ Brownstein, Bill (2021-07-26). "Brownstein: Boating tragedy witnesses still traumatized 67 years later". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  2. ↑ "Remembering a 1954 drowning tragedy that claimed the lives of 12 Quebec children - Montreal | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  3. ↑ Codrington, Dionne (July 13, 2025). "Commemorations for 12 Quebec children lost in drownings become space for healing".
  4. ↑ Brownstein, Bill (2024-07-04). "Brownstein: At last, a memorial for 12 children who drowned in 1954 boating tragedy". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  5. ↑ St-Pierre, Chelsey (2024-07-17). "West Island comes together to remember "The Twelve"". The Suburban Newspaper. Retrieved 2026-06-12.


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