Swimmable Waters
Is Your Community Swimmable?
Canadians have always loved cooling off in lakes, rivers, and the ocean on a hot day. But sadly, in many communities, a lack of clean, accessible natural water means this simple summer pleasure is out of reach for too many.
We want to change this.
At Swim Drink Fish, we believe everyone deserves to connect with their local waters. We’ve been working for over 20 years to restore access to swimmable, drinkable, fishable water across Canada. During this time, we’ve had the opportunity to work on some iconic projects with visionary funders such as the W. Garfield Weston Foundation. One fundamental truth we’ve learned along the way is that swimming is the ultimate indicator of a healthy waterway.
Swimming as an Indicator
The simple act of swimming is an indicator that people are connected to their waters. When the water is clean enough for the community to safely jump in, drink from, or catch and eat fish from, it’s a sign of a healthy waterbody; not just for humans but also for the wildlife, ecosystems, and nature that depend on it.
The act of getting into the water benefits us all; it’s been one of the greatest tools in challenging policymakers to clean up waterways across Canada. Holding mass swims in Toronto and Kingston, we saw firsthand how connecting with the water forced decision makers to stop looking away. It helped us challenge the “no swimming” signs holding so many communities from connecting with their local waters.
Taking a plunge may seem insignificant, but every time you do, you’re supporting a community's right to clean water and advocating for a healthier environment.
What if?
You had a free and accessible place to swim in your neighbourhood
Taking a dip outdoors was as common and easy as a walk in the park
Jumping in the water after work became the new “happy hour”
Your city builds new swimming spots for a fraction of the cost of a new pool
We cleaned up the pollution in our waterways for good
This could be our future. Cities around the world are reclaiming their waterways and giving their communities access to a new, cost-effective public amenity that promotes active lifestyles, environmental stewardship, and social inclusion.
Other Cities are Leading the Way
The Coral Bath, Copenhagen, Denmark. Photo by Thomas Høyrup Christensen
Faaborg Harbour Bath, Faaborg, Denmark. Photo by Mette Krull
Islands Brygge Harbour Bath, Copenhagen, Denmark. Photo by ArchDaily
Sørenga sjøbad, Oslo, Norway. Photo by Tove Lauluten
Bassin de la Villette, Paris, France. Photo by Dock Marine Europe
Canada has one best in-class example of its own in Kingston, Ontario.
The Gord Edgar Downie Pier opened in 2018, led by Swim Drink Fish. The pier has been an incredible success, with approximately 200,000 visits annually.
Twenty Years in the Making
The Gord Edgar Downie Pier is the culmination of over 20 years of work by Swim Drink Fish to reclaim Kingston’s waterfront for the benefit of the local community. For decades the city battled water pollution in Lake Ontario that prevented residents from being able to take full advantage of the water at their doorstep.
In 2017, the W. Garfield Weston Foundation donated $500,000 to help fund the Gord Edgar Downie Pier and beach improvements at Breakwater Park. The grant was part of Swim Drink Fish’s Great Lakes Challenge, which encouraged communities and other funders to do more to improve water quality in the lakes. This donation helped unlock further funding from the City of Kingston and the provincial and federal governments for wider park improvements.
An Example for Cities Everywhere
The Gord Edgar Downie Pier proves that a swimmable, drinkable, fishable future is possible and serves as an example to cities across Canada for how they can reclaim and revitalize their waterfronts. What was once an inaccessible area plagued by sewage has been transformed into a clean, accessible, and beloved spot in the community.
A Hip Connection
Gord Downie, lead singer of The Tragically Hip, was a Swim Drink Fish Canada Ambassador and board member before he passed away in 2017. Having grown up right across the street from where the pier is located, Gord was a strong proponent of the movement of swimmable, drinkable, and fishable waters during his life. In recognition of his advocacy for accessible waters in Kingston and across Canada, the pier was named in his honour.
Join the Swim Drink Fish Movement
We believe that building a movement of people connected to their water is how we create lasting change. When we fight for swimmable water, we're fighting for drinkable water, for fishable water, and for a healthier future for all.