UPDATE 6/9/23 11 p.m.
The three men from Stand Up for Great Lakes are calling it a night after rough weather halted their journey across Lake Ontario.
They left Friday morning around 7:30 a.m. just south of Toronto and made it across to Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario. Although they won’t be able to make the return trip, they say their mission to paddle across all five Great Lakes is now a success.
UPDATE 6/8/23 11 p.m.
Stand Up for Great Lakes still plans to cross Lake Ontario Friday morning on paddle boards.
They’ve pushed back the journey a couple of times now, but are hoping the weather stays nice enough to make it across.
Jeff Guy, Joe Lorenz and Kwin Morris are paddling from the south of Toronto, Ontario across to Niagara-on-the-Lake, then they will turn around and come back, landing near Bluffers Park Beach.
The group has noticed the smoke from Canadian wildfires, and they are hoping that it doesn’t slow them down.
“Well, the weather’s okay, but it is very smoky. And I think the sun should be out right now, but quite a bit of smoke in there and definitely noticeable. So I’m hoping tomorrow is a little a little clearer,” Guy said.
Stand Up for Great Lakes is planning to set off around 7 a.m. This final leg of their tour is expected to take them a day.
6/6/23 6:30 p.m.
It’s a bittersweet week for the non-profit Stand Up for Great Lakes.
That’s because they are getting ready for their journey across Lake Ontario, the final body of water for them to cross on stand-up paddleboards.
Over the last eight years, Stand Up for Great Lakes has been on a mission to cross off each of the five Great Lakes. Their efforts raise money to educate about and preserve our fresh water.
Co-Founders Kwin Morris says raising awareness about our most precious natural resource plays a big part in inspiring future generations.
“We live in a unique, spectacular place that when you grow up here, you don’t appreciate it. But then you start traveling. You realize that this is the only place in the world that it’s like this and there are threats to it. So having people aware of that and doing a little part for them is what it’s all about,” Morris said.
The goal this year is $25,000. You can click here if you would like to donate.
