Brasseur Family

Every swimmer has a story—often one that begins long before their first dive into the pool. Across Swim Ontario, families live and breathe the sport: parents who once chased their own dreams now cheer from the stands, or jump back in to share a lane with the next generation. Stroke for stroke, early mornings to late meets, these families grow together in the water and beyond.

In every lane, there is history. In every family, a future.

This series celebrates the Swim Ontario families who train together, learn together, and build legacies in the sport they love. Because swimming is stronger when it’s shared—and in the stories ahead, we honour that connection.

You’ve likely heard the expression “better late than never”.

It’s a commonly used phrase and, in the case of Jeremy Brasseur, what he did years ago resulted in a compelling and positive life-changing moment. Fifteen years, to be exact, have passed since that symbolic change has, in his own words, “consumed his life”.

Brasseur had been driving his kids to Toronto’s Granite Club Aquatics Complex for swim lessons. On one specific occasion, he observed a group of swimmers in the master’s age class. That was all it took. From then on, dad driving kids to those swim sessions continued - but so did his interest in getting in the water.

“I was hooked and remember that time so well,” said Brasseur, who was 35-years old when swimming became a regular part of his timetable. “I don’t know if it was the people, the sudden interest or the gamble to get in the water.”

Since then, Brasseur – who was once told that he had a body of a swimmer – hasn’t been far from the pool.

While his wife Andreana is not a swimmer, Brasseur and their four children – Ella (14), Liam (13), Brooke (11) and Hudson (9) – swim with the Granite Gators. The youngsters are competitive swimmers. That was a good enough hint for the oldest in the family to do the same.

Brasseur, many would say, has come a long way since the graduation days at Upper Canada College and the University of Western Ontario. At both schools, participation in sports was never a priority.

“There were the odd house league programs when I was younger, but just didn’t grow up in sports,” said Brasseur, who swam in the lake at the family cottage but prefers now being in a pool where he can see ceramics at the bottom.

“I had hurt my shoulder playing some tennis when I was younger, but then - when I had finished my first 10 laps - I thought I was some kind of a rock star celebrity.”

Regular attendance in the pool is the recipe of his success. His recent list of accomplishments has been impressive. In 2014, Brasseur swam in his first Master’s provincial championship in Windsor and hasn’t missed one since other than when the COVID pandemic closed all pools.

Brasseur started out as a sprinter in the water, but in recent years focussed on distance swims.

In 2024, he just missed out on a medal placing fourth at the Speedo Canadian Master’s championships after finishing the 800-metres freestyle in 10 minutes, 54.56 seconds. The following year he clinched first place in the 1,500-metres freestyle clocked in 20:47.01

“I've participated in the Swim Ontario Open Water (events) since it began at Professors Lake in 2018,” said Brasseur, with flashback moments recalling the days when he didn’t know the difference in strokes and couldn’t do a flip on a turn.

“(That’s) where I won gold in the two kilometres event for my age bracket. Four years later, Brasseur was third in the five kilometres and earlier this year was 13th at the Open Water championships (at Gull Lake near Gravenhurst).”

His days, solely as a spectator at swim meets are a thing of the past. There are exceptions, like when he’s out with the others to cheer on a family member in a competition.

“Grandma once said I had the body of a swimmer and I chuckled,” he said. “Now, being in the water is my meditation. I have no friends other than those in the swim community. Swimming is a real release for me from running a business. I’m a different guy and in better physical and mental shape now than ever before.”

Brasseur is Executive Chairman of Middlefield, a privately-owned and independent equity income company with headquarters in Toronto. The business website says it “manages portfolios to identify high quality, global companies generating significant and stable levels of cash flow”.

“When he’s in the water, he’s zoned in and having fun,” said Brooke, who is his youngest daughter. “I enjoy watching him and look up to him and my siblings. It’s quite a bit of fun when we all get to swim. It also makes me try to work harder and get better.”

So, what does it mean for Brasseur to see his kids very active in swimming?

“I am who I am because of the life I have,” he said. “What make me very happy is (along with his wife) raising our children in this sport where it creates discipline, challenges and the huge benefits of life skills

David Grossman is a veteran multi award-winning Journalist and Broadcaster with some of Canada’s major media, including the Toronto Star and SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN, and a Public Relations professional for 50+ years in Canadian sports and Government relations