Cool off at Gorge Swim Fest
Take the plunge in what organizers boast is one of Victoria’s warmest and cleanest natural swimming spots, at the annual Gorge Swim Fest on Sunday at Banfield Park in Vic West.
The family-friendly event is hosted by the Gorge Swim Fest Society, whose mission is to encourage people to swim in the body of water again.
Swimming in the Gorge waterway, a narrow inlet between Craigflower and Selkirk bridges, is experiencing something of a comeback.
The waterway had been the place for competitive swimming from the 1890s to the 1930s, with up to six clubs active at its peak.
A generation of Victorians shunned the waterway after it was polluted by industry and used as a garbage dump.
Cleanup efforts began in 2000, with help from the Veins of Life Watershed Society, the Gorge Waterway Action Society, the Victoria Canoe and Kayak Club and legions of volunteers.
Today, people are rediscovering locations where swimming galas and competitive diving once took place — producing athletes who went on to win gold medals at four Olympic Games.
Popular locations for a dip today include Banfield Park (Vic West), Kinsmen Gorge Park (Esquimalt) and Curtis Point at Gorge Park (Saanich).
Lifeguards will be in attendance at Sunday’s event, along with live music and food for sale.
Family-friendly activities and displays will showcase the beauty and history of the waterway.
Admission to the Gorge Swim Fest is free.
The festival runs from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at Banfield Park in Vic West. Bring a bathing suit and towel.
For more information, or to check out the water temperature, go to gorgeswimfest.ca or Facebook.