Media Advisory

Mayor going for swim in the harbour

(Halifax, August 31, 2010) - Mayor Peter Kelly is going for his harbour swim Wednesday, September 1 and he’s inviting residents of Halifax Regional Municipality to join him.

“It promises to be a fun occasion and I hope as many people as possible will join me in the water,” the Mayor declared Tuesday.

The event will take place at 11:30 a.m. at Black Rock Beach at Point Pleasant Park and lifeguards will be on duty.

The dip is a public show of confidence that the water in the harbour is safe for recreational purposes, now that Harbour Solutions is working smoothly.

“Our tests confirm the harbour is the cleanest it has been in decades,” Mr. Kelly said.

The Mayor extended a special invitation to young people to join him for the swim, noting that Wednesday is the last full day of the summer break for students.

“This will be a perfect way for everyone to cool off from the record temperatures,” he predicted.

Harbour Solutions is the $333-million sewage-treatment project which came on stream earlier this year. It consists of three new plants positioned around the harbour to provide advanced primary treatment to effluent.

The project was delayed when a flood in January, 2009, knocked the Halifax plant off-line.

*30*

Contacts:
Mayor Peter Kelly
490.4010

Peter Duffy
490.4078