Swim Drink Fish releases water safety video featuring Rob Baker of The Tragically Hip
September 13, 2019
Kingston, ON - A new video from Swim Drink Fish features Rob Baker, guitarist with The Tragically Hip, promoting water safety at Kingston’s swimming pier. The video, narrated and scored by Baker, celebrates the Gord Edgar Downie Pier while reminding students and residents to stay safe.
Baker outlines six things everyone should do at the pier:
Check the water quality before you swim
Scan your surroundings
Make a plan for getting in and out of the water
Never swim alone
Be considerate to make the experience better for everyone
Share your experience
The video emphasizes the importance of building a culture of respect around open water.
The Gord Edgar Downie Pier is Canada’s first urban swimming pier. The unique swimming pier is part of a multi-million dollar restoration project at Breakwater Park spearheaded by the City of Kingston. Swim Drink Fish worked with The W. Garfield Weston Foundation to secure funds to support the creation of the pier and protect the shoreline.
Swim Drink Fish helped unveil the pier in 2018. Since its opening, the Gord Edgar Downie Pier has helped reconnect thousands of people to Lake Ontario.
Swim Drink Fish Ambassadors and acclaimed filmmakers Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas de Pencier of Mercury Films produced the video. The video is posted online on Great Lakes Guide, a Swim Drink Fish initiative (greatlakes.guide).
Swim Drink Fish is a Canadian charity working for a swimmable, drinkable, fishable future. By blending science, law, education, and storytelling with technology, Swim Drink Fish empowers millions of people to know and safeguard their waters. Its oldest program, Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, launched in Kingston in 2001.
Quote(s)
“For generations, most of our urban waters were dotted with ‘No Swimming’ signs. As more people, especially young people, come back to the water, it’s important we remind ourselves how to safely interact with wild waters.”
- Mark Mattson, President and Waterkeeper, Swim Drink Fish
Quick Facts
Swim Drink Fish helped the City of Kingston officially unveil the Gord Edgar Downie Pier during the re-opening ceremonies of Breakwater Park on July 26th, 2018.
The Gord Edgar Downie Pier is Canada’s first urban deep-water swimming pier.
The W. Garfield Weston Foundation, City of Kingston, and Federal government all came together to fund the Gord Edgar Downie Pier.
Video
Video credit instructions: “Courtesy Swim Drink Fish”
Links
Contact
Julia Hambleton
juliahambleton@swimdrinkfish.ca
416-861-1237 ext. 4000
