Blind man completes swim across B.C.'s Georgia Strait for a good cause (2024)

Scot Rees battled strong currents but completed 30.5-km swim in just under 11 hours

Author of the article:

Sam Riches

Published Jul 26, 2023Last updated Jul 26, 20232 minute read

Join the conversation
Blind man completes swim across B.C.'s Georgia Strait for a good cause (1)

It took Scot Rees just under 11 hours to swim 30.5 kilometres across B.C.’s Georgia Strait, and he raised more than $140,000 for charity while doing it.

Blind man completes swim across B.C.'s Georgia Strait for a good cause (2)

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Blind man completes swim across B.C.'s Georgia Strait for a good cause Back to video

Blind man completes swim across B.C.'s Georgia Strait for a good cause (3)

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Rees, 39, has a condition called retinitis pigmentosa, a rare eye disease that affects the retina and can lead to vision loss. Legally blind, Rees completed the swim to raise money for people in need of guide dogs.

He was forced to postpone the attempt by a day due to strong wind and wave forecasts but completed the swim earlier this week. He departed from Davis Bay in Sechelt, B.C., before arriving at Pipers Lagoon near Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.

On social media, he wrote that he got off to a strong start before battling strong currents at the 16 to 22-kilometre mark and endured “sore shoulders, fatigue and a very salty mouth for the last half.”

He said his own guide dog, Kaleb, a 34-kilogram yellow lab, also provided inspiration for the attempt.

Rees was raising awareness for Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind, a national registered charity founded in 1984, “to give back in my own small way to a charity that has made a very positive impact in my life.”

Blind man completes swim across B.C.'s Georgia Strait for a good cause (4)

THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

  • Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.
  • Unlimited online access to National Post and 15 news sites with one account.
  • National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
  • Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
  • Support local journalism.

SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ARTICLES

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

  • Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.
  • Unlimited online access to National Post and 15 news sites with one account.
  • National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
  • Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
  • Support local journalism.

REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

  • Access articles from across Canada with one account.
  • Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
  • Enjoy additional articles per month.
  • Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Don't have an account? Create Account

or

View more offers

Article content

The Georgia Strait is an arm of the Salish Sea and varies in width from 20 to 58 kilometres across its 240-kilometre length. The stretch of sea is home to seals, porpoises, orcas, sea lions and other wildlife.

While he can still see some light, Rees writes that he has lost all functional sight over the last 15 years, necessitating “a significant transition in my mindset, career, and personal pursuits.”

Rees told CBC that Kaleb “restored a lot of my independent mobility that I had lost.”

Rees wasn’t alone in his attempt, as four-time Paralympic swimmer Donovan Tildesley, who is also blind, swam alongside him for the first hour before following along by boat. Rees was also joined by his friend Joost Van Woerden, who paddled alongside in a kayak, and was aided by a waterproof headset in his swimming cap that allowed him to hear directions.

On a fundraising page for the event, Rees writes that he competed regularly in short-distance swim racing as a child before moving to longer open-water endurance swims, like the Vancouver Bay Challenge, a 9.6-kilometre swim across English Bay.

Advertisem*nt 3

Story continues below

This advertisem*nt has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

Rees writes that Kaleb, his guide dog since 2021, has brought him “life-changing benefits,” allowing him to navigate Vancouver’s busy streets, commute to work, go for lunch and head to the pool to train.

“(Kaleb) is an integral part of my family, bringing joy to me, my wife, Alexandra, our two young children, and everyone he meets,” he writes.

Recommended from Editorial

  1. 'Lift heavy, be kind': Ontario man first Canadian to win title of World's Strongest Man
  2. The Kylian Mbappé billion-dollar football bid explained

Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here.

Article content

Comments

You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.

Create an AccountSign in

Join the Conversation

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.

Trending

  1. 'Stop these criminals from destroying people' says suicide note after victim kills accused Toronto fraudsters
  2. Trudeau’s future is tied to the vote of a rich Toronto neighbourhood
  3. Amy Hamm: Nanny state Canada leashes law-abiding citizens as criminals roam free
  4. Canada reportedly preparing to evacuate 45,000 citizens from Lebanon amid war fears
  5. Here's what Timberlake told fans at his first concert since arrest

Read Next

Latest from Shopping Essentials

  1. Amazon returns just got substantially easier in Canada: What to know There’s “no box, tape, or label needed”

    1day ago Shopping Essentials

  2. Do juice cleanses work? A three-day juice cleanse was the kickstart I needed for a healthier lifestyle

    1day ago Shopping Essentials

  3. Advertisem*nt 2

    Story continues below

    This advertisem*nt has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

  4. Beauty reviews: CHANEL Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sun-Kissed Powder, LolaVie Sculpting Paste, and Belif Aqua Bomb Hydrating Hyalucid Serum The three buzzed-about new beauty products we tried this week.

    1day ago

  5. Makeup tutorial: A fresh take on the frosted eyeshadow trend All the rage back in the '90s and early 2000s, frosted eyeshadow is back in a big way this summer.

    1day ago

  6. Review: Expand Furniture’s Flip Console to Dining Room Set is convenient for small spaces The dining table can accommodate six people

    1day ago Shopping Essentials

This Week in Flyers

Blind man completes swim across B.C.'s Georgia Strait for a good cause (2024)

FAQs

Blind man completes swim across B.C.'s Georgia Strait for a good cause? ›

It took Scot Rees just under 11 hours to swim 30.5 kilometres across B.C.'s Georgia Strait, and he raised more than $140,000 for charity while doing it. We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Has anyone swam across the Strait of Georgia? ›

It took Scot Rees just under 11 hours to swim 30.5 kilometres across B.C.'s Georgia Strait, and he raised more than $140,000 for charity while doing it. We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

How do blind swimmers swim straight? ›

Swimmers with little or no vision and who participate in sports or competition might prefer to use “tappers.” Simply put, this is a specially trained person who warns the swimmer of when he or she is near the end of the pool or needs to make a turn. They do this by “tapping” the swimmer with a long foam poll.

Are there sharks in the Strait of Georgia? ›

Ratfish and sixgill sharks are just two examples of creatures that live in the deeper waters of the Strait.

How deep is the water in Georgia Strait? ›

How do blind swimmers know where the wall is? ›

Tappers let visually impaired swimmers know when they are approaching the end of the pool. Once the swimmers recieve the tap, they know when to turn. With raging adrenaline and muscles propelling their bodies at high speeds toward a wall, visually impaired swimmers need to know – exactly – when to turn.

Do synchronized swimmers open their eyes underwater? ›

The swimmers create the illusion of standing on their feet or hands because they are so proficient at the techniques of eggbeatering and sculling. Synchronized swimmers swim with their eyes open underwater.

Can a person with weak eyesight swim? ›

Swimmers with nearsightedness (myopia) or farsightedness (hyperopia) may favor using contact lenses while swimming for refractive correction. However, wearing contact lenses while swimming can be hazardous at times. As some contact lenses shrink in water, there is a good chance you will lose them.

Has anyone swam across Georgian Bay? ›

On August 31, 1996, John Scott became the first person to swim across Georgian Bay. Scott entered the water at Lighthouse Point on Christian Island arriving at Collingwood's Harbourview Park in 10 hours, 12 minutes.

Has anyone ever swam across the Great Lakes? ›

Dreyer, who has crossed all five Great Lakes, has spent a lifetime challenging himself in the water. After conquering Lake Michigan, Dreyer swam across Huron in 1999, Erie and Ontario in 2000 and Superior in 2005. It took him a few tries to make it. In 2013, he towed a ton of bricks on a 22-mile swim across Lake St.

Are there dolphins in the Strait of Georgia? ›

More than 3,000 species can be found here seasonally and year-round. These include the Bigg's transient killer whales, the Pacific giant octopus — the world's largest, 100-year-old rockfish, schools of herring and salmon, millions of birds, as well as seals and sea lions, dolphins and whales.

Do people swim across the Cook Strait? ›

People choose to swim Cook Strait for a number of reasons:

Personal. Physical. Psychological.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Twana Towne Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 6112

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (64 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Twana Towne Ret

Birthday: 1994-03-19

Address: Apt. 990 97439 Corwin Motorway, Port Eliseoburgh, NM 99144-2618

Phone: +5958753152963

Job: National Specialist

Hobby: Kayaking, Photography, Skydiving, Embroidery, Leather crafting, Orienteering, Cooking

Introduction: My name is Twana Towne Ret, I am a famous, talented, joyous, perfect, powerful, inquisitive, lovely person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.