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The year has flown by and so much has happened, but the clearest memory I have was when I completed this swim.

I wanted to just take a moment to all of those who helped with this ‘project’, especially my parents, my wife Lisa, my son Mason, Gordie, Richard, Trudy and all of the other folks who volunteered or who hung out with us along the way.

What’s next for 2012?

Well, not much.  However, I am still trying to initiate some very basic planning for something I’d like to do next year:  a swim ‘relay’ in Lake Ontario.  The basic concept is that if there were 100 people swimming and we all did a 10km swim, we’d cover the entire perimeter of Lake Ontario.  I wouldn’t actually want it to be a relay because that would be too damn complicated, but instead just be one big massive swim from Point A to Point B and then we add up all of the distances covered.

Who’s on board?  Where should we do it from?  When should we do it?  Should we do it as a fundraiser or just do it … because?

Tell me what you think and how you might be able to help.

Bill Wittur
SHOMESwimmer

Join Us!

I know it’s late notice for many, but Maude Barlow – Canada’s Water Warrior – will be presenting her ideas about the situation with the Great Lakes at the Aeolian Theatre in London on May 30, 2012.

Tell all your friends!

Other dates and locations:

• May 28 – Township of Tiny
• May 29 – Owen Sound
• May 30 – London

This is big news, especially when London can’t seem to control water issues.

As a reminder, they estimated that the distance from London to London is nearly 6,000 kilometres ‘as the crow flies’ which works out to about 240,000 laps of the YMCA’s 25 metre pool.

Well, we’re down to 11,000 and within a week or so, I predict that we’ll be into the 4-digit range.

Keep tracking this – it’s a fun challenge and definitely something I’m proud to be a part of!

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But did you know that a group of committed swimmers is  diligently making their way across the ocean from London, Ontario to London, England in celebration of the upcoming international event?

No?

Well, the local YMCA conceived of the idea several months ago.  They did the numbers and here’s what they came up with:

• It’s approximately 5,900 kilometres (km, give or take) to London, England from London, Ontario
• The pool at the YMCA Central Branch is one of a small handful of quality lap pools and is 25 metres long
• There are 40 laps in 1 km
• 40 x 5,900 = 236,000 laps

Yikes.  Nearly a quarter million laps to go from Point A to Point B!!

But guess what?  We’re almost there!

At last count, members of the Central Branch YMCA in London have knocked off nearly 200,000 laps and are down to the 40,000 range.  Most of this total has been tackled by the Master’s Swim Class, but there are other regulars that are doing their best to contribute to the total.

Current Master’s activities account for about 1,000 laps per session and there are 4 sessions per week.

(You can still sign up for the current session if you want – contact the Central Branch 519-667-3306 and tell them you want to join in the London2London swim challenge).

In other words, my guess is that we’ll be done within the next 10 weeks, although I don’t know if the last two weeks of swimming have been added to the total.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Bill

It is with great regret that I relay information about a significant lawyer, activist, environmentalist and human being that I was fortunate enough to work with last summer when I did my swim in BC.

Douglas Chapman passed away on April 4 after succumbing to a brief illness with lung cancer.

I’ve pasted the Fraser Riverkeeper update below and wish all of those who are close to Doug my kindest and warmest thoughts.

Please consider making a donation to the Fraser Riverkeepers on Doug’s behalf.

Douglas George Chapman, April 8, 1936 – April 4, 2012

We are deeply saddened to announce Doug’s passing after a brief illness with lung cancer. He died peacefully at home in with loved ones at his side.

Doug lived a full life. He practiced criminal law for years until the ocean called him. He bought a sailboat and sailed around the world with his friends, making more friends along the way. He worked as a commercial salmon fisherman out of Prince Rupert.

Doug then returned to the practice of law as a Canadian champion of the environment, where he made crucial accomplishments for environmental justice. One of these landmark cases included the first criminal case to result in a jail sentence for a polluter in Canada. He held corporations and governments accountable for allowing pollution to enter our waterways and forced them to change their practices for the better.

Doug wore his devotion to the environment on his sleeve: It was never “the company” or “the defendant”; it was always “the polluter” (usually preceded by a few choice expletives), and his enthusiasm for his work was unbounded.

In his later years, he joined Ecojustice and then Waterkeeper Alliance as the Fraser Riverkeeper where he protected the Fraser River from polluters and continued his pioneering work with private prosecutions. He leaves behind a legacy of environmental activism, positive results and inspiration for all who have had the privilege to know him.

Doug will be deeply missed by the love of his life, Carol McDonald, as well as his children, Lynn, Michael and Paul Chapman; grandchildren James, Danny, Carina and Drusilla; great granddaughters Pasyn Ella and Aurora; and his loving sister Gloria Chapman of Kitchener and her family. He also leaves behind many close friends, including Dr. Al, Jasper, Kaye, Donna, the Mattson Family, Hansu and Kari and other close family members and friends.

He joins his best friend Jim Christoff who recently predeceased him.

Bon Voyage Doug! We will miss you.

“All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts”

-Shakespeare

Donations in memoriam can be made to: Fraser Riverkeeper, http://www.fraserriverkeeper.ca/

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