Checking In: @waterkeepermark and the Gord Edgar Downie Pier
For the Checking In series, Mark Mattson checks in with Kingston’s Gord Edgar Downie Pier. The Gord Edgar Downie Pier is a flagship Great Lakes restoration project, in part made possible by The W. Garfield Weston Foundation. Swim Drink Fish attended the unveiling of the Gord Edgar Downie Pier In July 2018. Since it opened, this swimming pier has become one of Lake Ontario’s most popular swimming destinations.
Q: How often do you visit the Gord Edgar Downie Pier?
A: I visit the Gord Edgar Downie Pier almost every time I am in Kingston.
During my university days at Queen’s University, we went to Breakwater Park every day in the summer, winter, spring, and fall - just to get some space and fresh air.
Now I go to marvel at the architecture and the access to the Lake. And during the warm months I also go swimming.
For the past few months, I have walked by just to see how it is doing and if there are any signs it is re-opening to the public.
Q: How clean is the water at Gord Edgar Pier?
A: Many years ago, the water quality along Breakwater Park and Gord Edgar Downie Pier was less than desirable for such a deep water pier on the Lake. However, in the last two decades, much work has been to improve the water quality to the point where it has a great record of safety and purity. For example, if you check the Pier on Swim Guide and access the “pie” chart you will see if it passed all tests by KFL&A Public Health.
Q: Have you conducted tests or any investigations at the Pier to improve water quality?
A: When Lake Ontario Waterkeeper first started in 2001, we were on the water and in the area often, sampling the water, taking photos, and documenting our work. More recently, our investigations turned into collaboration with the City of Kingston, Utilities Kingston, and KFL&A Public Health. Everyone in Kingston recognizes the importance and value of a clean waterfront to the community and instead of investigating, we are working together to find ways to work together and solve water quality issues together.
Q: Are you sampling at the Gord Edgar Downie Pier this summer?
A: No...KFL&A Public Health does the sampling at the Pier.
However, Lake Ontario Waterkeeper is sampling on the waterfront in other areas as part of Swim Drink Fish - Great Lakes Communities Recreational Waters Monitoring Initiative funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada.
One reason we are sampling is too engage the public in citizen science training. Another is to gain important insight and data into under monitored areas for water quality where the community already uses the water frequently and might be vulnerable to bacteria contamination.
Finally, we hope to share and analyze the data with the City of Kingston, Kingston Utilities and KFL&A Public Health to determine if progress can be made moving forward to expand the community’s connections to Lake Ontario.
Q: Will you swim at the Gord Edgar Downie Pier this summer?
A: I hope so. It remains closed for safety reasons right now, but if it opens, I definitely will be going to jump off into the water this summer.
Hopefully, others do too. But be sure to watch our video on safety at the Pier before swimming.
Q: How can people interested in the Gord Edgar Downie Pier or the Lake Ontario Waterkeeper Water Quality Monitoring Hub get more involved?
A: There’s a lot you can do. If you’re interested in getting involved, let us know using our Contact Us form. In the future when it’s safe to do so, we can teach you how to sample. And you can take photos of Kingston’s waterfront and the swimming pier and share them with us using Gassy (our photo tool), or tagging us online using @LOWaterkeeper and @swimdrinkfish.
