It’s official, summer has come to an end. This summer was busy, we got outside, connected with our watersheds, celebrated new partnerships, welcomed people into the movement, and spent time at the places we love. We asked the summer staff to reflect on their favourite moments and the things they learned.

Jennifer Chen:

My favourite moment of the summer was a sunny sampling day at the Fort Edmonton Footbridge Sandbar near the end of the summer. The main parking area was full with cars side to side. It was meaningful to monitor the water while seeing dozens of people enjoying the beach! This included families, children, grandparents, and more all exploring the long sandbar and Cougar Island. I especially remember a lady with a swimsuit and a bike who simply sat serenely by the water for half an hour, letting her feet dip in and her hair blow in the breeze. Seeing people connect to the water highlighted the importance of protecting these recreational spots for years to come. Fort Edmonton Footbridge Sandbar is definitely a recreation spot that I will return to next summer!

I've learned that the Kisiskâciwanisîpiy (North Saskatchewan River) is a special place! We have a surprising amount of biodiversity in our river valley. Over 8 species of fish live in our river, including the lake sturgeon which are now thought to be able to live for over 400 years! I also saw hundreds of tiny fish darting around in the shallows of the river banks! Additionally, I observed a new species of bird for the first time, called the Greater Yellowlegs!

I'm truly grateful to Swim Drink Fish and to the community for this experience. I've gotten to work with an amazing team, and met community members who care just as much about our waters. I have enjoyed learning to monitor and advocate for the North Saskatchewan River, and will carry this experience into my future!

Kyle Chuckry:

My time at Swim Drink Fish and this summer in particular has been an amazing experience working alongside such amazingly passionate and talented professionals! Among my favourite moments were completing Blue Flag Site Audits alongside coworkers. Having the opportunity to oversee their application process and reading so much about these beautiful beaches and marinas was fun, but having the opportunity to experience them first hand was something else!

I’ve learned plenty about how much time and effort it takes to maintain the expansive database of Swim Guide. Seeing the way different regions report their water quality data was very interesting and it was satisfying to see it all cleaned up in the one stop shop that is Swim Guide.

Dylan Leween:

Jack Johnson concert Tabling at RBC Amphitheater in Toronto, Ontario

This summer, I had the privilege of attending the Anishinabek Water Consortium hosted by Aamjiwnaang First Nation, located on the St. Clair River within the city limits of Sarnia in southwestern Ontario, Canada. With influences across the Great Lakes region that are advancing Nibi (water) protection and advocacy, this was such an incredibly transformative and insightful experience that truly inspired me to get more involved in Indigenous water governance. As I continue studying Indigenous Environmental Science and Practice at the University of Guelph, the memories I made this summer will surely influence the way in which I perceive environmental concepts. The Water Consortium was a phenomenal example of this, as it gave me the opportunity to listen to First Nations leaders, Elders, youth, Knowledge Holders, water practitioners, researchers, and partners from across the Great lakes region as they discussed the vital role that water plays in our lives. As a young Indigenous woman who grew up on a reserve that constantly faced Boil Water Advisories, this was an incredibly powerful event to attend. To see so many people come together to talk about the importance of water and the necessity to have access to clean, drinkable water, and giving people the platform to talk of the hardships they have endured was insanely impactful. I am so grateful for the chance to attend such an event.

This job has taught me so much in such a short amount of time. Through my experiences, I have become more comfortable talking to the public about our initiatives here at Swim Drink Fish. For instance, at the start of the summer, I had the opportunity to assist at a tabling event at the RBC Amphitheatre in partnership with Jack Johnson’s All At Once social action network, as he partnered with local not for profit organizations at his concert venues to spread the word of environmental advocacy. We were privileged to take this opportunity to talk about our programs, more specifically, our Watermark Project, which is a storytelling tool that connects people with a waterbody that holds significance to them. Stored in an online network, this allows us, and decision makers, to look up bodies of water and see all of the people that care so deeply about them. Through an interactive activity that got visitors to put a sticker on their watermark, we used this chance to build relationships with people to place. This event was truly incredible as we got to talk with so many individuals who cared deeply about water and listened as they shared stories about their own watermarks.

Swim Drink Fish has given me so many exciting opportunities that have allowed me to get out and explore! For instance, I got to help out by completing some beach and marina audits to conclude if they are in compliance with the Blue Flag program! Blue Flag determines if a beach or marina meets specific health, safety, and environmental standards! If you see a Blue FLag flying in a beach or marina, then you can ensure that you are entering into a beautiful recreational space that is regularly being observed to determine if they continue to meet these standards!

Zara Zuniga:

I really enjoyed working as a Community-Based Water Quality Coordinator in Vancouver with Swim Drink Fish this summer. My favorite part was my weekly water quality monitoring. I found myself collecting water samples as early as 7 am to avoid traffic. Then I realized that the earlier I was at the site, the more wildlife I encountered. One day, I saw seals, geese, ducks, and sea stars, all in the same morning! Besides that, the water was still, and the warm colors of the sunrise were magical. I had to sit and take a moment to appreciate nature’s work.

I learned a lot throughout the summer, especially about working with federal and provincial guidelines to protect waterways. I also learned a lot about Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) and how they continue to be a big problem on the West Coast.

I loved getting to know the great Swim Drink Fish team and seeing how close, kind, and passionate they are about the work they do. Like, how cool is it to start your week of work by thanking staff members?

Thank you, Swim Drink Fish!

Reflecting on Summer 2026

Mark Mattson Receives the Terry Backer Award