Adjusting to Alberta’s Lakes After a Life Surrounded by Beaches

One of the things that worried me about moving to Alberta was the limited water supply, or more specifically, the lack of swimmable lakes. Back in Barrie, Ontario, I was surrounded by water. One of my favourite spots was Wasaga Beach – the world’s longest freshwater beach – where I spent many summer days swimming with loved ones. There was Georgian Bay, Lake Ontario, countless stunning smaller lakes up North in Muskoka and my favourite of all, Lake Simcoe.

My 12-year-old son has ADHD and passionately loves being in the water. I’m always looking for ways to pull him away from video games and get him out into nature. Just two months ago, we were living in Mexico, where dipping into the warm Pacific Ocean was a weekly ritual.

When we decided to return to Canada, one of the main things that drew me to Alberta was the Rocky Mountains. I had fallen in love with the mountains in Puerto Vallarta, and I couldn’t imagine living far from them again.

What I didn’t anticipate when I chose to move to Alberta, though, was how much I’d miss Ontario’s beaches. Summer in Canada is so short, and for me, swimming in lakes has always been the best part of these fleeting warm months. Since my kids were toddlers, I’ve made it a priority to get them to the beach as much as possible.

Swimming in natural bodies of water feeds my soul, and my son shares that passion.

Alberta does have plenty of small lakes, but living in Calgary, I began to wonder where we could go for a quick swim. I usually don’t brave lake water until late July, August, or even September, but my son? He’s ready to jump in by May. For weeks, he had been asking me to take him swimming. Calgary’s turquoise rivers are beautiful to look at, but not exactly ideal for swimming, so I felt stuck.

Then we discovered Lake Chestermere—just a 25-minute drive from home. It’s no Lake Simcoe, but it’s lovely in its own way. My son was thrilled to finally splash around and burn off some energy. This weekend, we’re planning a trip into the mountains to visit spectacular Kananaskis. It’s about an hour’s drive, and we can’t wait to explore one of the lakes there. But for now, during busy weekdays, I’m grateful to have a little oasis nearby for my energetic, water-loving boy.