Despite the late start due to the cold temperatures in mid-June, this season’s Tour de Trout has more registrants than ever.
The swimmers go out two or three nights a week, averaging 2.5 kilometres each time, which founder Johanne Brousseau compares to swimming roughly 100 lengths of the pool.
The short swim is around 1.5 kilometres.
“The last two years we’d have about 19 or 20 people registered, and about 50 per cent of those would come each night. We were smiling if we had 12 swimmers. And this year we have over 50 people registered and the minimum we’ve had is 29 and up to 38 swimmers at a time,” grinned Brousseau.
“We do Four Mile Bay, One Mile Bay, and all the main lake. So, it is a total of 17 swims, for a total of 42 kilometres, which is a marathon in running.”
Dock hosts give the swimmers and the kayakers who follow them, safe access to the lake.
Andrew Finlay has been dock host for the past three years.
“Being a dock host is the easiest job ever because all you have to do is provide a venue or platform for people to leave from and return to. So, once I volunteer as a dock host I just let everybody have fun,” said Finlay.
Tour de Trout asks for a $50 donation from its swimmers, whether they swim once or 17 times.
All money raised goes to the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign.
Combined with corporate donations and anonymous donors, this year organizers expect to raise roughly $6,000, shattering last year’s total of just over $2,000.
“The Strong Kids Campaign ensures that everybody can access YMCA programs and services, and this group in particular because they’re swimmers, they really want kids to learn how to swim,” said Nicole Beattie, vice-president of philanthropy and marketing at the YMCA.
“The YMCA has a nationally recognized swim program, so the kids would go through all of their levels and within that, they learn life-saving skills too. So, they’re ensuring that every kid who wants to learn to swim at the YMCA can, and they won’t be turned away because their family can’t afford it. I think that is pretty awesome considering we live in a community that has two lakes and kids really need to learn how to swim here.”
Pamela Hansen learned to swim when she was just four years old. Now nearly 76 years of age, Hansen decided this was her year to join the group.
“This is my first year with the Tour de Trout. I’ve been too busy other years. I only have so much energy, so I have to spread it around and this year it was the Tour de Trout,” laughed Hansen.
“Tonight’s swim was great. It was supposed to be 1.3 kilometres, but I’m sure I swam 1.5 kilometres because I zig-zagged all over the lake. “
Jodee Brown Yeo has thoroughly enjoyed her Tour de Trout experience.
“I love to swim, and I like the camaraderie. Just being able to enjoy this lake is amazing. And I think it is great to support the kids and the YMCA.”
The swim group is wrapping up its last week of swimming for the season.
The last scheduled swims are Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings.
Anyone wishing to donate can visit Tour de Trout 2019 on Facebook for more information, or contact the YMCA.
