We used to head up to a family friend's cottage on Lac Saint-Victor every summer! I was very young at the time (under 12 years old) and had somehow had a natural talent for swimming at the pool. I soon realized I could swim in open water too. I slowly gathered the courage to swim to an island in the middle of the lake, about 500 meters from the dock. I would swim to the uninhabited island and explore it.
My sister and a friend or two would join me by canoe, along with adult supervision. I remember feeling such a sense of accomplishment in achieving this, because the island looked so far away from the dock... and the best part was that I didn't have to worry about safety because motor powered watercraft were banned from the lake at the time. I took it for granted then, but I realize now how fortunate I was to be able to swim in this wonderful, clean lake as a child. I hope children and people of all ages are able to continue enjoying Canada's waters for a long time to come.
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Save your favourite destinations, activities, and articles to start creating your very own personalized Great Lakes Guide.
As of 2024, the Great Lakes Guide will be transitioning to Biinaagami.org. Biinaagami is a multimedia, change-provoking initiative rooted in Indigenous knowledge aiming to uplift voices and to connect people with their watershed.
