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Braeside Beach

A group of women sit on a sandy beach watching children play and swim to a boat house is a short distance from the shoreline.

2014-0339 Carol-Anne Smith fonds, Arnprior & McNab/Braeside Archives.

Overlooking Braeside Beach and Gillies’ Boat House used by the Mills and Gilmour families, circa 1965. Photographer unknown.

 

Swimming at Braeside Beach was always a popular pastime for residents. By the mid 1960’s, Mrs. J. O. Smith was convenor of swimming lessons sponsored by the Braeside Recreation Association.  Mary Frances Wright was supervisor for those trying to obtain qualifications. In the late 1960’s, swimming instructors included Karen Gillies, Monique Baker and Carol Couvieau.

While swimming back and forth to the boathouse was quite safe, swimming outside the docks was considerably more dangerous. Water skiing was also risky, with stray logs floating in the Ottawa River.