Celebrating 90 Years

“We can talk for hours about the historic value of this club, some of the great people affiliated, and lots more.” - Tony Field, President, Lakeshore Swim Club    

By David Grossman

Celebration time and everyone likes a party – especially one with historic and memorable occasions.

This momentous time has to do with a swim club.

What was once a dream by Gus Ryder, just before the start of World War II, is now inching closer to celebrating a remarkable milestone 100th birthday.

The focus, around those associated with Toronto’s Lakeshore Swim Club, is to honor, praise and glorify, the longest continuous running swim club in Canada.

There are stories that claim Lakeshore has been the stepping stone, the “learn-how-to-swim” start, for a phenomenal one quarter of a million youngsters over nine decades. While impressive, including the dedicated commitment of dozens of coaches, officials and volunteers over the years, there is also quite a storied past of this organization which, on several occasions, may have been on life support.

“We can talk for hours about the historic value of this club, some of the great people affiliated and lots more,” said Tony Field, President of the Lakeshore Swim Club. “The fact is, we’re stable as a club and focussing on performance – giving kids and opportunity to swim. For others, those concentrating on the competitive side, we’re providing good coaching and helping them to set personal goals.”

The club has a clear incentive even though there have been times when one of the biggest problems has been finding access to pools.

For years, using the Gus Ryder pool as a home base was sound, having the vintage spirit of Lakeshore Swim Club stars from the past. Names like Marilyn Bell, Cliff Lumsden, Ryder and former champion distance swimmer, Lucille Gamble, believed to be the first club member at the age of seven.

Current times are more challenging for the 125 members, ages eight to 17, and the 125 families who make up the Lakeshore club. There are even former members, now university and college students but with strong memories of great times, who continue to frequent the club when academic studies are completed for the year.

The Lakeshore Swim Club no longer functions out of one location. In fact, try six that range from pools in elementary and secondary school, to those run by the municipality as well as the University of Toronto.

And with a coronavirus pandemic plaguing the world, the Lakeshore Swim Club is feeling it, too. Just when the organization is about to celebrate a 90th birthday.

Tense times occurred when 12 swimmers, involved in a training camp held in Orlando in March, saw the event shortened to one week because of Government warnings for Canadians to return home.

“Engaging kids can be a huge challenge when we have to isolate,” said Field. “But we will prevail and we’re here for the long haul. We focus on dry-land training, run yoga programs because we know that not getting in the pool is only a temporary thing.”

Events set to honor the landmark festivity, ranging from the Marilyn Bell Swim Classic and Gus Ryder Memorial Cup, gala banquets and special awards, may be temporarily postponed, but that hasn’t stopped the drive and determination.

A planned special event, set for Florida in October, may also be in jeopardy. That’s when Lakeshore alumnus Marilyn Bell is expected to be inducted in to the International Swim Hall of Fame.

Field said the dismay of the pandemic has been over-shadowed by new program planning. He recognized Swim Ontario for being a huge help, introducing special programs and a very helpful club tool kit.

Closing in on 20,000 members, Swim Ontario also has one of the largest list of clubs. Yet, the Lakeshore Swim Club is in a category all by itself with a strong history, memorable names of graduates and a strong foundation for the future.

Eric Anderson, originally from Alberta, didn’t know much about the storied Lakeshore Swim Club and its wealthy background, until he was appointed head coach.

“A few years ago, we shook things up at the club and have grown a program that combines lots of fun, competition, teaches social skills, and allows swimmers to take lots away with them for the future,” said Anderson, a former Junior National team medal winner. “We’ll do what is needed to keep everyone engaged and also understand the massive history of this club.”

Field and Anderson agree that the Lakeshore Swim Club needs to stage some form of event in the current calendar year to ensure members understand that the organization has been more than just a place to swim.

“There is lots of excitement here and, for me, the Lakeshore Swim Club has been an opportunity for young swimmers to be involved in a journey that allows them to see what is possible and, if opportunities are there, to show those with potential that there is no limit to success.”

David Grossman is a veteran award-winning Journalist, Broadcaster with some of Canada’s major media, including the Toronto Star and SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN, and a Public Relations professional for 45+ years in Canadian sports and Government relations.