Toronto Lakefront Community held a fundraiser for the Rick Hansen Foundation (“RHF”) throughout the month of August of 2024 to help further their mission "to inspire, create and deliver innovative solutions that accelerate a global movement to remove barriers to inclusion for people with disabilities”.  For over three decades, RHF has raised awareness, changed attitudes, and funded spinal cord injury research and care across Canada.

TLC continues to foster a conversation within our communities and with the local government regarding the challenges of accessibility at City-run beaches.

Despite decades of advocacy, people with disabilities still face many physical barriers in the places where we live, work, learn, and play. Roughly 25% of our population identify as having a disability, which translates to about 750,000 Torontonians. None of the City’s beaches currently provide access to the water for people with disabilities. TLC aims to work collaboratively with the City to inspire and encourage change. We are fortunate to have such a beautiful, clean, swimmable lakefront, and we think everyone has an equal right to enjoy it.

TLC hosted a fundraiser involving group swims with experienced and passionate open-water swimmers from the community. Our team swam at five City beaches throughout August, 2024. 

Aug 3rd - Cherry Beach

Aug 10th - Centre Island Beach

Aug 17th - Woodbine Beach

Aug 24th - Kew Balmy Beach

Aug 31st - Bluffers Beach

All swims take place at 9:00am.  

We named the event the “Ripple Effect Charity Swims”, and we envision that with every swim stroke we take, we are bringing about waves of change for people facing inclusion and accessibility challenges at Toronto’s beaches. 

Upon conclusion of our fundraiser TLC raised $5000 for RHF. Thank you to all our donors, sponsors and supporters in helping us to exceed our fundraising goal.