CORNWALL, Ontario – Last week a Cornwall athlete followed the path of his voyageur ancestors and began a journey that has never been attempted before.
Marathon swimmer, David Merpaw kicked off a solo swim of the St. Lawrence River at Kingston, to promote both an awareness of fresh water and the need for Canadian support of the environmental sciences.
He now has many stories to tell of his “Swim for Science” which is expected to conclude Wednesday in Montreal.
“As I’m swimming (all the) rivers, I like for people to think about our water sources, the rivers, lakes, animals, fish, and environment. Water is life and without it we cannot survive,” said Merpaw.
Merpaw, a river steward and an experienced endurance athlete, is promoting the work of the St. Lawrence River Institute through his swim because of its role in protecting the health of the waterway and its citizens. He waded into the St. Lawrence River at its beginnings near Kingston City Hall on July 13.
Swimming solo without a permanent crew, wearing a wetsuit and towing a small kayak with provisions, he is journeying between 8 and 10 hours per day. Travelling with the current, the trip is to conclude on the afternoon of Wednesday, at 1 p.m. when David plans to come out of the water at Victoria Pier in Old Montreal.
It is planned that boats from Kahnawake will escort him through their territory and the Lachine Rapids.
“Swimming as many rivers as I can is a mental and physical challenge, but the real message I wish to promote is the importance of our most significant natural resource – fresh water,” said Merpaw.
Known as the Kaniatarowanenneh by the Mohawks, the St. Lawrence or “Great River” is a unique and valuable natural asset that was bestowed upon what is now three nations through the creation of the Great Lakes system some 10,000 years ago.
