Over a hundred years ago, on a steamy summer day,Chicagoans were enjoying the city’s Lake Michigan beaches. Temperature records from the 27th of July 1919 say it was a scorching 35C outside (96F). Chicago only had four municipal beaches at the time. These four beaches were in the north part of the city, far from …

Canada has thousands of kilometers of shoreline, spanning both coasts as well as the many lakes, rivers, and other swimming spots inland. It’s no wonder Canada is home to so many world-class waterfront destinations. In early 2020, Swim Drink Fish, the nonprofit behind the Swim Guide initiative, became the National Operator of the Blue Flag …

French version to followBlue Flags awarded to 29 beaches and nine marinas in Canada this year, announces Swim Drink Fish June 9, 2020 Toronto, Ont. – Twenty-nine beaches and nine marinas have earned the prestigious Blue Flag Canada certification this year. Blue Flag is an international award given to beaches and marinas that meet high environmental, …

This post was first published on 28 May 2020, and last updated 10 July 2020.Toronto beachesThere are 11 official city beaches in Toronto. There are lifeguards are on duty at 10 of Toronto’s beaches. These include: Bluffer’s Park Beach (Blue Flag) Cherry/Clarke Beach (Blue Flag) Kew-Balmy Beach (Blue Flag) Marie Curtis Park East Beach Sunnyside …

Clean water is a central initiative of the Surfrider Foundation, whose mission is the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves and beaches. An estimated 180 million people visit the beaches in the United States alone every year to enjoy some of the nation’s most outstanding public areas. Surfrider works in innovative ways alongside …

Swim Drink Fish is proud to announce we now operate Blue Flag Canada. Blue Flag is a world-renowned certification program for eco-friendly beaches, boats, and marinas. With this exciting news, Swim Drink Fish joins the Blue Flag International network of 47 National Operators. Beachgoers around the world recognize the iconic Blue Flag. And Blue Flag …

This post was originally written on 31 March 2020, and was last updated 28 July 2020. This page will be updated often with new information.The end of May typically marks the start of the summer at beaches across Ontario. This year, it will be an unprecedented swim season due to the measures in place to …

The Swim Guide was created in order to answer the question, “Is it safe to swim?” For 9 years, we’ve provided up to date recreational water quality data for beaches, lakes, and rivers around the world. The Covid-19 pandemic has added a new intonation to the question of whether or not you can get sick …

3 July 2020 updatesIn an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus, enforce social distancing, and in certain cases, accommodate mandatory work and travel restrictions, states, counties, and cities across the USA are limiting access to beaches. The majority of US recreational water quality monitoring programs continue to sample beaches and share test results as …

Hello everyone,How are you doing?We are here for you.In the face of the coronavirus virus pandemic, most of us are practicing “social distancing.” Swim Drink Fish, the organization behind Swim Guide, has adopted these practices. We’re encouraging our staff and network to always follow the advice of our health experts. This means working from home, …

January 27 is Northland Anniversary Day, and there’s a lot to celebrate in this exquisite region. Waitangi is the birthplace of New Zealand. It’s where the Treaty of Waitangi, the nation’s founding document, was signed in 1840. Waitangi is also the site of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, which you can visit in this region. The …

Kiwi summer swim spots on the world mapThis summer, Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA) has teamed up with Canadian-based not-for-profit Swim Drink Fish to share New Zealand’s recreational water quality results with an international audience. The latest results collated and displayed by the LAWA website are now also available on the globally popular Swim Guide …