On Tuesday October 12, our featured speaker was Richard Jordan on Marilyn Bell and Marathon Swims Across Lake Ontario.
In 1954 the Toronto Telegram sponsored a famous American marathon swimmer in an attempt to become the first person to swim across Lake Ontario. She failed, but Marilyn Bell, an unknown Toronto teenager, managed to complete the feat and captured the heart of the city. Richard spoke about how swim marathons started as part of a U.S. phenomena. He explained the whole history of CNE marathon swims and some of the other people who conquered the lake, like Vicki Keith.
More detailed account of Speaker Night will be covered in the next Member’s Newsletter.