Swimmers take a refreshing 4K dip to help the Ottawa River

guest · 2016-08-06

After the recent heat wave, scores of swimmers decided Saturday morning was a good time for a refreshing four-kilometre swim across the Ottawa River.

The air temperature was in the low 20s when the first participants dipped their toes in the river before 8 a.m. at Lac Deschênes Sailing Club, headed towards Aylmer’s Parc des Cèdres.

Ottawa Riverkeeper Meredith Brown said the water temperature for the swim was “very warm.”

“I measured it (Friday) and it was about 27 C, and I’m pretty sure it must’ve been like that (Saturday),” Brown said.

Among the participants were Ottawa Centre MP Catherine McKenna, the federal environment minister, and Will Amos, Liberal MP for Pontiac riding (technically on the Gatineau River).

Supporting a swimmable, drinkable and fishable #OttawaRiver is what the #Riverkeeper4K is all about! @ottriverkeeper pic.twitter.com/lQpqok068T

— Minister C. McKenna (@ec_minister) August 6, 2016

Great to complete this swim with @WillAAmos. Another great day at the office #riverkeeper4K @ottriverkeeper ???? pic.twitter.com/T7Adr1XaJy

— Catherine McKenna (@cathmckenna) August 6, 2016

It was McKenna’s third Riverkeeper swim and she was complaining good-naturedly on Twitter that her cabinet duties were keeping her from properly training. She completed the four kilometres in one hour and 17 minutes.

The Ottawa River has been designated the country’s newest Heritage River, but only on the Ontario side, so far. The federal government remains in negotiation with La Belle Province to extend the designation to the Quebec shore.

The Riverkeeper 4K event had about 130 registered participants, about 100 of them for the full four kilometre and the rest for shorter distances.

Brown said the swimmers and sponsorship activities raised about $15,000 for for a variety of causes in support of clean and safe waterways.

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Swimmers take part in the Riverkeeper 4K Ottawa River swim near Shirleys Bay in Ottawa on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. (Patrick Doyle)

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Swimmers take part in the Riverkeeper 4K Ottawa River swim near Shirleys Bay in Ottawa on Saturday, August 6, 2016. (Patrick Doyle)

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An escort boat watches swimmers as they take part in the Riverkeeper 4K Ottawa River swim near Shirleys Bay in Ottawa on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016.

swimmers-take-part-in-the-riverkeeper-4k-ottawa-river-swim-n9-e1470510315811.jpeg

Swimmers take part in the Riverkeeper 4K Ottawa River swim near Shirleys Bay in Ottawa on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016.

swimmers-take-part-in-the-riverkeeper-4k-ottawa-river-swim-n8-e1470510350982.jpeg

Swimmers take part in the Riverkeeper 4K Ottawa River swim near Shirleys Bay in Ottawa on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016.