SWIMMING IN GATINEAU PARK - COMMITTEE UPDATE:

This past summer has presented a number of challenges for the open water swimming community, with COVID-19 affecting access to both open water and indoor/outdoor pools. People who would normally rely on swimming for physical, emotional, and social well-being found themselves without access to any swimming venues for an extended period of time.

As the National Capital Region began lifting restrictions on recreational activities, these difficulties continued to persist, largely due to the limited capacity permitted in indoor/outdoor pools as they reopen. As a result, many swimmers found themselves depending on access to open water venues in order to swim.

The lifting of restrictions has also brought a higher number than usual of visitors to Gatineau Park, and to its beaches. Due to a number of incidents at Meech Lake in particular, the National Capital Commission (NCC) made the decision to close the Meech Lake public parking lots from 9pm to 7am. Those swimmers who relied on going the lake in the early morning before work could no longer access it, since there was nowhere nearby to park their vehicles. This impacted many swimmers with limited free time to swim in the evenings, and who use swimming for their physical and emotional well-being.

In an effort to resolve the issue, a number of swimmers reached out to the NCC to discuss their concerns. Further to the issue of parking lots, swimmers were also reminded that swimming beyond the designated swim area at any of the beaches within Gatineau Park is technically prohibited according to the NCC's National Capital Commission Traffic and Property Regulations. Swimmers voiced their concerns that access to these lakes - truly, national treasures - should be permitted.

In response to this situation, the NCC announced they intend to hold public consultations in the fall of 2020 to work with stakeholders on developing a long-term approach to access and use of the lake. This situation presented the swimming community with an opportunity to bring forward a united voice, not only for these issues but perhaps other challenges or difficulties related to swimming with the area. And with this, the NCOWSA was formed.

The NCOWSA has begun planning its activities related to this matter, with the intention of taking a seat at the table during the public consultations and to working actively with the NCC in bring forward positive solutions.