Growing up in Southern Ontario, the quintessential way to spend your summer days is by the lake. I remember my family would count down the days until we left for the cottage. Excited about all the time we’d spend together enjoying the lake and all that nature has to offer.

The drive was 2.5 hours and the first thing anyone did when we arrived was run down to the dock to see the water. I have such fond memories of returning each summer to that dock and seeing one of my favourite places in the world, Otter Lake.

Each day was filled with swimming, boating, fishing, campfires, and all around outdoorsy fun. I can recall so many memories of scouring every inch of the lake by boat, swimming until your skin started to look like a prune, chasing frogs and minnows, screaming with laughter on a boat ride that’s going so fast that you have tears in your eyes from the wind. This is where my deep connection with water began.

It is here that I learned about the value and importance of access to water and how vital of a resource it is for all life. This is the place that allowed me to discover and connect with my passions and have them flourish into what they are today. I am forever grateful for these summers at Otter Lake, as it shaped me into who I am now.