Take a cooling dip in the Gorge
The Gorge Waterway has a long history of cooling hot Victorians in the summer. Sunday’s Gorge Swim Fest celebrates the history of the waterway and emphasizes its accessibility.
“It was the playground for Victorians for many years,” said David Tait, spokesman for the Gorge Waterway Initiative, which is hosting the event. “The idea behind the festival is to let people know the waterway is once again clean to swim and a great way to spend a day.”
At its height in the early 1920s, six swimming clubs were active along the Gorge. The waterway has a number of features to attract swimmers, from sandy beaches to pebble beaches and rocky cliffs to man-made swim floats.
Two decades of cleanup efforts by volunteers and enhanced public awareness about water pollution have steadily improved water quality.
The Vancouver Island Health Authority monitors water cleanliness with samples taken weekly from the same three locations as Sunday’s festival.
Last year’s inaugural swim revival attracted more than 2,000 people, with more than 600 taking a dip.
“We had more of a turnout than we expected,” Tait said. “We thought we would see a few hundred — and a few thousand people turned up.”
Those who took the plunge last year discovered just how clean and warm the water in the Gorge can be, with summer water temperatures that can range from 23 to 27 C.
The festival also offers music, barbecues, facepainting and prizes.
The free event runs from noon to 4 p.m. There are activities planned in all three locations: Banfield Park in Vic West, Esquimalt Gorge Park and Curtis Point at Gorge Park in Saanich.
For more information, go to gorgewaterway.ca.