Start a Virtuous Cycle: Go Swim
Written by Mark Mattson
Kingston Shoreline
“By getting in the water, you set in motion a virtuous cycle that restores swimmable, drinkable, fishable water for all.”
There is a quiet, profound power in the simple act of immersion. For years, we at Swim Drink Fish, previously known as Lake Ontario Waterkeeper (LOW), have been guided by a data-driven mission: sampling water, reporting on quality, identifying hidden and not-so-hidden beaches, and sharing clear, trusted information so you can swim where it is proven safe. But data only gets us part of the way. To truly save a body of water, people have to love it. And to love it, they have to touch it.
The Day We Stopped Talking and Jumped In
In 2008, we decided to put that belief to the test at Richardson Beach in Kingston.
Instead of another report or press release, we hosted a Mass Swim—a simple, joyful act of collective courage. We stopped talking about the water and started getting into it.
Looking back from 2026, that day feels like more than an event. It feels like a spark.
From a Local Splash to a Global Movement
When we climbed out of Lake Ontario that day, we were dreaming of a future that has since become reality. That single swim helped pave the way for:
Swim Guide — now sharing vital water-quality information for more than 10,000 beaches across 20 countries.
The Gord Edgar Downie Pier — made possible through the incredible support of the Weston Family.
The Wave Prize — investing millions in the communicators and innovators working to restore swimmable water in their own backyards.
Swimmable Cities — a global movement co-founded by Matt Sykes, now advancing this work across the Great Lakes with Swim Drink Fish and Biiinaagami
What began as a local act of trust has become an international blueprint for change.
The Radio Show: A Time Capsule of Optimism
I want to invite you to step back in time with us.
We’ve preserved the original radio show recorded just after we dried off from that Kingston swim.
Listen to the episode on SoundCloud:
https://on.soundcloud.com/PdRRP3KO8JnObpU8BT
This isn’t a “doom and gloom” environmental report. It’s an infectiously positive, celebratory story about nearly 200 people—and their dogs—reclaiming their right to the water.
Why it’s worth your time:
Challenge your perceptions
The show recalls a moment—only a few years before the broadcast—when many people believed you needed a “spacesuit” to safely touch Lake Ontario. Compare that to today, where the waterfront is a vibrant, indispensable public space.
Discover Kingston’s soul
Hear the voices, stories, and music of the Limestone City, woven together into a portrait of a community reconnecting with its shoreline.
See the Waterkeeper blueprint in action
Get a behind-the-scenes look at how boat patrols, grassroots newsletters, and public events combine to create real, lasting change.
The Lesson Is Simple
The water is waiting.
Every time you dive in, you’re not just cooling off. You’re voting—for cleaner water, for public access, for a healthier future.
You are proving the water is worth saving.
Listen to the show. Get inspired.
And then?
Go swim.
