We miss you
April 23, 2020 | Mark Mattson and Krystyn Tully
Dear friends,
Tonight marks the date of what would have been the 9th-annual Swim Drink Fish gala.
In a few hours time, you would have been walking through the event doors. You'd be sneaking a peek at our latest mobile tech for citizen science and nature appreciation.
We miss you.
We have always said that the gala is more than just a fundraising dinner. It’s a night for a community of people to come together, celebrate our shared love of water and nature, and plan for a future where everyone has access to beaches, parks, and wild places.
This work has never felt more urgent.
The quarantine shows us how much people rely on beaches and parks for their mental and physical well-being. These are the places we connect with family, friends, and the feeling of something larger and more important than ourselves.
When our access to such places is restricted, we feel the emptiness. That’s why our social media and app traffic skyrocketed a few weeks ago. People want to know where they can go and what they can do in the midst of this crisis. We’re there for them, just as you’ve always been there for us.
While we can’t gather in person, we invite you to pause for one moment today to think about your connection to water and to this community of people who share your appreciation for health, family, and life. Just one moment is all it takes to remember that we’re part of a community and we’re working for a better future.
If one minute isn’t enough for you, feel free to relive the gala in the comfort of your own home. We recommend watching the beautiful video created at our 2018 gala, one of our all-time favourite gala moments. We’ve curated a list of shorter videos for you as well, so you can see how we’ve grown over the years even as our commitment to swimmable, drinkable, fishable water remains unchanged.
Familiar faces, inspiring words, and a reminder of the things we love and value most about life … it’s all in there.
Warmest and fondest regards to you and your family. Until we meet again,
Mark and Krystyn
Birth of the Swim Drink Fish Movement | Gord Downie's words
History of Lake Ontario Waterkeeper
The Waterkeepers