I grew up in a small community in New Brunswick. My school mates were children of fishermen and farmers. Clean swimmable, drinkable, fishable water was and still is so important to these families.

In the summers, when we took a break from harvesting, we would go to the beach usually in Cape Pele or one of the other small beaches on the New Brunswick side of the Northumberland Strait and have a picnic, make a sandcastle, and play in the water.

In those little pools created by the tides, were hermit crabs. We would turn over the rocks and watch them scurry around and run sideways across the sand. I so badly wanted to take one home to be my pet. In those moments, my mom would so carefully explain how we should respect nature and this was their home. We could come back and visit but the hermit crab would not be happy living with me.

I will always remember how my mom would pack up everything when we left the beach, telling us what we bring, we take home. Those were wonderful, simple family times.


Now the world is moving too fast, and we really should try and get back to those simple times, sitting on the blanket, watching the water and watching the children run in the water, jumping over the waves or finding the treasures in the small pools created with the moving tides.

I still like to walk or sit close to bodies of water, just listening to the musical sounds of the waves or watching the sunshine dancing on the water. That sense of calm and peace takes me back.

It saddens me to think that nowadays some beaches have warnings or can even be closed for periods of time. That people are too busy to pick up after themselves, be careful with their waste, or are even carelessly dumping toxic chemicals and waste into the water.

Thank you to those that want to reconnect with nature.

Thank you to the River Keepers.

Thank you Swim Drink Fish team.