Solo Swims of Ontario Inc.Solo Swims of Ontario Inc.
Debbie started swimming at the age of five at the YMCA pool in New Westminster, British Columbia. She started swimming
competitively at the age of 13 for the Mississauga Aquatic Club (TOMAC). The following year she started with the Alderwood
Swim Club, coached by Tony Keeler. She also swam for Applewood Heights Secondary School, coached by her father.
"I guess she comes by her aquatic love honestly." Says her father Ted. There are more than 30 medals in Debbie's family. Her
mother, Thelma, her sisters, Jo-Anne and Michele, and brother Ted Jr. all hold swimming certificates. Ted Sr. holds all YMCA
certificates as well as scuba, Red Cross and Master Life Saver certificates. Grandfather Pat Roach rowed and coached the first
man, John Jaremy, across Lake Ontario. Second cousin Winnie Roach was the first Canadian to swim across the English Channel
and also attempted to cross Lake Ontario with Marilyn Bell.
Debbie's first marathon swim was on August 4, 1974 when she became the first person to swim from Washago to Orillia on Lake
Couchiching. With her father coaching and brother pacing her, the 12 mile marathon took 6 hours and 41 minutes. They raised
$300 for the Orillia branch of the Canadian Cancer Society.
Debbie's second marathon swim was across Lake Ontario on August 16, 1975. Water temperatures ranged from 19 to 22 degrees C
throughout the 32.5 mile swim that lasted 18 hours and 41 minutes. Debbie remembers a difficult part of the swim, about 10 miles
from the Toronto shore line, when her father looked down at her with tears in his eyes and asked "Do you want to get out Debbie?"
Debbie replied "No Dad, we're going all the way!"
Debbie surprised the waiting crowds of well-wishers by not touching shore at the first land available, but instead she swam through
the Ontario Place marine channel to reach shore only yards from the main gate of the Canadian National Exhibition.
Debbie had a wager with her father that called for him to quit his two-pack-a-day cigarette habit if she successfully crossed the lake.
When Debbie got out of the water, the first thing she did was reach for her Dad's cigarettes and crumple them. They turned out to
be Ted Sr.'s last pack of cigarettes and he still thanks Debbie for saving his life from smoking.
The swim was followed by a triumphant tour of the Ontario Place waterways in a rubber pace boat to the delight of the estimated
10,000 Canadian National Exhibition and Ontario Place visitors who watched her come ashore. Debbie said she was not interested
in setting any records; she only wanted to make it across the lake. She was very thankful to all of the family, friends and the
"Richard C" who helped her to achieve her goal. Debbie gave all proceeds from the swim to the Alderwood Swim Club to help further the opportunities of young swimmers.
A year after her solo swim across Lake Ontario, Debbie's family became the first family to swim a relay across the lake.
Debbie served on the Board of SSO for 6 terms from 1995 to 2001. She married and had 3 sons and was working in the life enrichment department of a Whitby nursing home. She enjoyed
doing restorative therapy with the residents and ran programs in swimming therapy and gardening.
SSO Home Page | Swim List | Niagara Plaque | Contact WebMaster
Created: 14th March 1999
Last Updated: 18th November 2022
