Learn a little of Toronto's history as told through its plaques.
The Crossing of Lake Ontario by Marilyn Bell
Photo and text by contributor Wayne Adam - June, 2009
Photo and text by contributor Wayne Adam - June, 2009
Photo Source - Wikipedia
Here, in Budapest Park, on the lakeshore, is a Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque which says:
On the evening of September 9, 1954, 16-year-old marathon swimmer Marilyn Bell became the first person to swim across Lake Ontario. Racing unofficially against the heavily favoured American swimmer Florence Chadwick, Bell endured eels, high winds, and frigid waters for almost 21 hours to complete her world-record-breaking 51.5-kilometre swim here. Her courageous achievement won unprecedented attention both at home and abroad for the sport of marathon swimming in Canada. Bell's swim demonstrated that women could compete in even the most gruelling sports and fostered immense national pride.
Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.636453 -79.448643
Related Toronto plaque page
Marilyn Bell
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