St. Peter’s getting ready for Swim the Canal
‘They’re as young as 11 and up into their 80s’
Ann Marie Kerr said the idea to hold a Swim The Canal event in St. Peter’s was inspired by her childhood experiences of jumping off the bridge and swimming in the canal.
St. Peter’s native Kerr is the organizer behind the annual event that sees more than 200 people swimming together in the St. Peter’s Canal, with swimmers choosing either to swim the 800-metre length of the canal or its 100-metre width.
Any swimmer is welcome to take part, regardless of age or ability.
“People have noodles or flippers,” Kerr said. “They’re as young as 11 and up into their 80s.”
Kerr said that one family had four generations swimming last year. This year, the fourth annual Swim the Canal takes place on Aug. 6 from 2-5 p.m.
The swim is on the last day of the community’s annual summer festival, Nicolas Denys
Days.
The RDV Tall Ships will be in St. Peter’s from Aug. 4-6, and
Kerr expects large crowds to be in St. Peter’s to see both the swimmers and the tall ships.
“Anybody that grew up in St. Peter’s has real nostalgic feelings for the canal,” she said.
But it’s not just St. Peter’s residents who swim the canal. People come from near and far to join in on the fun.
The first year of the event saw 77 people in the water, which rose to 119 the second year and 180 the third year. This year, more than 200 people are expected to go for a swim in the canal.
Kerr said it’s a very joyous event.
“The first or second year everyone started singing in the lock,” recalled Kerr, laughing.
It’s very special this year due to the soon-to-be completed two-lane bridge in the community, something the people of St. Peter’s have been looking forward to.
Because the number of participants this year is going to be capped, Kerr recommends registering for the event.
The swim costs $16 to register online at swimthecanal.visitstpeters.com, or $15 in person at Marsha’s Custom Cuts in St. Peters.