You don't have to be a cranky Gen-Xer to appreciate the freedom to swim in a river unsupervised, but it probably helps. As the National Capital Commission prepares to open two new swimming docks in the Ottawa River (at the Museum of History and near Major Hill Park), I want to say how refreshing it is not to be nagged about stuff we know.
You shouldn't have to absorb a stone tablet's worth of rules before throwing yourself in the water on a hot summer day. And not just because the weight of a stone tablet would make you sink. In the decades since my youth, when curfew was whatever time the streetlights came on, it feels like the world has been taken over by worry-warts trained by hyperactive personal injury lawyers.
The Problem with Excessive Warnings
Like the proposed social media ban for kids under 16. A lot of people agree it's a good thing, because they see how damaging algorithms can be to young minds. They're right about the damage, but a ban is the most anti-useful thing you can do. Mostly because it lulls adults into a false sense of safety, which is worse than danger you're paying attention to.
The same logic applies to detailed warning labels at the beach or the pool. The city is run by greige gnomes who live like mushrooms in the basement offices at City Hall, writing emails to residents like the one I got one Tuesday morning reminding me that safety on, near or in the water is everyone's responsibility but especially mine.
"Swimming in recreational water can be a refreshing and exciting experience," it says like we have no idea what water is. But unlike pools, "open water has additional risks to consider, such as potential bacteria from wildlife or human activity, weather conditions, and hidden hazards like rocks, undercurrents or sudden drop offs."
I was almost tempted to ask them to describe human-activity bacteria but in the end chose to preserve what's left of my sanity. Do we really have to be warned there may be rocks at the bottom of the river?
The Joy of Unsupervised Swimming
Swimming in the river is a wonderful joy. It's one of the benefits of living in Canada that we have access to such beautiful water all around us. For free! In many of those swimming spots, there are lifeguards so if you're not a super confident swimmer, you should definitely go there, or maybe take lessons. But for those of us who have confidence in our aquatic skills, can we please be trusted not to get in trouble stupidly?
I'm not here to downplay the seriousness of drowning. But golly. Maybe competent adults already know about it? It's fine to post the rules and regulations so that you can point to them when the odd person does something they shouldn't. But beyond that?
The people of the NCC, bless their hearts, tell us that swimming at their docks is generally unsupervised and that we use them at our own risk. Which is refreshingly adult. We can acknowledge and minimize risks without making people feel like dummies. I shall celebrate with a big splash. See you there!
Brigitte Pellerin (they/them) is an Ottawa writer.
