My Watermark is Pickerel Lake, Ontario.

I have always had a connection with water as I am a competitive swimmer. I live in the North part of Toronto and one of the most memorable experiences I have ever had with water occurred while on a family cottage trip to Pickerel Lake, near Burks Falls,Ontario. Though I was only 12 years old at the time, I remember it like it was yesterday. Despite the beautiful nature that surrounded the lake, it was during my trip to Pickerel Lake that I also got to experience many water activities for the very first time. Among those, fishing, kayaking, as well as canoeing.

My connection with the water probably happened while I was learning how to fish – after all, Pickerel Lake was known for its great habitat for small mouth bass, pike, perch, and of course, pickerel. It was at this point in time that I founded myself struck by just how beautiful everything was, and how essential water really was to life as a whole. Especially at that particular time of day, when the sun was just rising, I couldn't help but gaze at the waters that surrounded our boat; everything was just so calm, quiet and peaceful that I could not help but enjoy every second of it. I also had the chance to swim through the waters, which also had a totally different feel as, up to that point, I had only swam in a swimming pool as a former competitive swimmer.

I had such a wonderful weekend with my family at Pickerel Lake that year, that even when I look back at all our family photos spent at the cottage, I can still so vividly picture and recall the very smell and aroma of the water and of course the lands that enclosed it. It was truly an unforgettable and memorable experience.