Swim Guide

On June 22, 2025, Ottawa Riverkeeper proudly became a signatory to the Swimmable Cities Charter, joining a global movement that champions the right to swim and celebrates urban swimming culture.

Ottawa Riverkeeper’s Water Quality Assistant for the summer of 2025, Maya Lawson, shares some of her experiences going to beaches to test water quality this summer, and the connections she made with people and the river!

Gabby, Ottawa Riverkeeper’s Water Quality Assistant for 2024, reflects on her time testing local beaches and getting to explore the watershed, as well as how important it is to have accessible data for the public to understand the conditions in their waterways.

Libby Lacroix, Ottawa Riverkeeper’s Water Quality Assistant for the summer of 2023, recounts some of the highlights of her summer of testing water quality around the Ottawa River watershed!

Our awesome Water Quality Assistant Olivia MacAskill reflects on her personal experiences after spending her summer sampling and testing the water quality at watershed beaches.