Peterborough Blogs
Rotary Swimathon Founder Carl Oake Passes Away Ahead of 39th Annual Fundraiser Launch
/Ahead of the Rotary Club of Peterborough’s 39th Rotary Swimathon launch scheduled for Feb. 28 at the YMCA of Central East Ontario, founder Carl Oake has passed away at 79 years old on Thursday, announced at the Baker Tilly KDN on Monday morning.
(From Left to Right) Renee Oake, Tana Oake, Vanessa Oake Hogan and Lesley Oake share a moment of love as their father and/or husband, Carl Oake, had passed away last week at 79 years.. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Also known as the Carl Oake Rotary Swim, the fundraising event supports Easter Seals and Rotary projects, raising over $1.4 million since its inception. A goal of $50,000 has been set for fundraising efforts towards Rotary projects which is being collected until March 28.
The event encourages groups, organizations and individuals to swim at the lanes at the YMCA to raise funds. Introduced last year are the ‘Cannonball’ and ‘Floating Catwalk’ Challenge. They were added to allow those who cannot swim or provide an alternate activity to raise money for teams or individuals.
His daughter and event organizer, Vanessa Oake Hogan says that this event will always continue the legacy left by her father.
“We never had any intention of stopping and especially now, we always knew it was important to the community,” she explained.
Over the weekend, several notable Peterborough figures, organizations and friends and family of the Oakes expressed their condolences of Carl’s passing on social media. The outreach was reassuring for the Oake family knowing Carl’s impact on the community.
“But the last couple of days, the outreach has been incredible and I know that's what people know him for primarily,” said Vanessa. “It really helps in dealing with this loss to know that he touched so many lives and was recognized and appreciated for that. It helps us cope with this difficult loss.”
Carl Oake and his daughter Renee after the latter finishes up swimming her lanes in 2022. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Despite Carl’s passing, it will not deter from the event in late February if at all creates an opposite effect, says Vanessa.
“I just think we have a huge boost of energy behind the event this year and renewed sense of importance,” she explained. “Hopefully the community rallies and joins us to honour dad with the end goal of helping the community.”
The public is encouraged to participate in the events as an individual or a team and can register online. Those registered will be assigned a fundraising page. The public can also donate directly via the website and receive an instant tax receipt.
Anyone can donate at any time online at the Rotary’s website.
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38th Annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim Takes the Plunge For Easter Seals and Rotary Projects
/The 38th annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim plunged into the YMCA Central East Ontario pool to fundraise their goal of $50,000 for Easter Seals Ontario and Rotary Club of Peterborough on Friday morning.
Vanessa Oake Hogan (left) with her sister Renée Oake shortly after the latter did 146 laps in the swimming lane. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
This event has fundraised over $1.4 million for Easter Seals and Rotary Projects. Other recipients of the proceeds are literacy programs, various shelters (Brock Mission, Yes Shelter and more) Breakfast for Kids, Camp Kawartha, Rotary Trail and more.
Roughly $5,300 of the $50,000 goal was already raised online at the publication of this article but more funds have yet to be accounted for with a final tally.
Carl Oake started this event 38 years ago. He says he was inspired by the work the Easter Seals did because of his relatives. His mother’s twin sister contracted polio in the 1950s while a cousin of his was born with spina bifida - both physically debilitating diseases.
Carl’s daughter, Vanessa Oake Hogan, succeeded in the role of organizing the event in 2017 after the former was satisfied that the event had so much community support over the years. She and her sister, Renée Oake, were proud to carry on their father’s legacy.
“He built so much momentum with this event over the year and it's gained a lot of support with the community so it was a natural for us to carry it on,” said Vanessa. “It's definitely important for us to carry on dad's tradition.”
”I'm just proud to carry on the torch for my father for such a good cause,” said Renée.
Teams and groups could swim in lanes to participate in the fundraising event.
New to this year’s swim was the ‘Cannonball’ and ‘Floating Catwalk’ Challenge. They were alternative activities for those who cannot swim or could not get a team to help raise money while participating in the event.
“It was a great addition,” said Vanessa. “I think it's definitely something we would want to continue.”
The online fundraising page remains open for donations until March 15.
“It's always a lot of work leading up to it but it's the day of the event you say, 'Okay, it's all worth it,' and I'm really happy to have all the support and the volunteers,” said Vanessa.
Cannonball and Floating Catwalk Challenge Added to 38th Annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim Fundraiser
/The Rotary Club of Peterborough has added two fun activities, the ‘Cannonball’ and ‘Floating Catwalk’ Challenge, in addition to their swimming to fundraise for the 38th Annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim, announced at the Peterborough Lawn Bowling Club on Monday afternoon.
Various members and Rotary guess showcased swim attire to participate in the new events as an aternative to traditional swimwear. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The fundraising event is scheduled at the YMCA of Central East Ontario for March 1, beginning at 7 a.m.
The new activities for the annual fundraiser were added to allow those who cannot swim or provide an alternate activity to raise money for teams or individuals.
“Not everybody is a seasoned swimmer,” said Ken Seim, Rotary president-elect. “Some of the older groups that used to come out were having difficulty putting together a team and we thought, ‘let's change it up and make it more fun.’”
Participants can cannonball into the pool in the ‘Cannonball’ challenge or run across a tarp floating atop the water in the ‘Floating Catwalk’ challenge.
The Rotary Club presented a swim fashion show to promote wacky swim attire as an alternative to traditional swimwear like bikinis or shorts. A contest with prizes is being held for those who wear the aforementioned.
A goal of $45,000 has been set for fundraising efforts towards Rotary projects. Over $1.4 million has been raised to date.
“It’s our primary fundraiser and with that, we’re able to do our projects in town,” said Seim. “The Prince of Wales breakfast program, you heard about the international program that’s been done, Easter Seals Christmas party, work on the Rotary Trail, supporting stuff like the YES program, transitional housing and anew nurses station at Camp Kawartha.”
The public is encouraged to participate in the events as an individual or a team and can register online. Those registered will be assigned a fundraising page. The public can also donate directly via the website and receive an instant tax receipt.
Anyone can donate at any time online at the Rotary’s website.
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Fundraisers Dive Into the Action at 37th Annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim
/Big splashes were made that the 37th annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim as 19 teams hit the pool lanes to raise a goal of $50,000 for rotary projects at the YMCA Central East on Friday morning.
Renee Oake (left) with her son Oscar Weinstein (right) after swimming 150 laps in the lane pool. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
This event has fundraised over $1.32 million for Easter Seals and Rotary Projects in the area.
The funds raised will go towards rotary projects such as Easter Seals, Camp Merrywood, equipment for Easter Seals families for home renovation, Camp Kawartha, Breakfast for Kids program, The Rotary Trail and supporting a residential treatment facility.
Carl Oake started this event 37 years ago. He says he was inspired by the work the Easter Seals did because of his relatives. His mother’s twin sister contracted polio in the 1950s while a cousin of his was born with spina bifida - both physically debilitating diseases.
Vanessa Oake Hogan, event organizer took over running the event her father started and was satisfied that the event has had so much community support over the years.
“I'm very proud that he started it and very proud to have the opportunity to carry it on,” she said. “It's a lot of work but with Rotary's help, we seemed to be able to keep it going so there's a lot of pride.”
The Carl Oake Rotary Swim fundraising page still remains open for donations. A final tally is being made at a later date.
Hometown PTBO: Vanessa Oake Hogan On the Origins of the Carl Oake Rotary Swim and the Upcoming 37th Edition on March 3
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This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with Vanessa Oake Hogan of Century 21 United Realty about how the Carl Oake Rotary Swim got started and getting prepped for the 37th annual swim on March 3.
Photos: Rotary Club Rides Armour Hill In Half a Canoe to Promote 37th Annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim
/The Rotary Club of Peterborough are continuing their daredevil antics as former president Wayne Harding went down Armour Hill in half a canoe to promote the 37th annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim on Saturday.
Harding has helped promote the event with past stunts such as being pushed in a shopping cart off a dock into Clear Lake and paddling the Lift Lock while firefighters sprayed him with fire hoses. Last year, Harding went down Armour Hill in a kiddie pool filled with water. Harding immediately agreed with half a canoe for this year’s stunt.
“One of our rotary club members Graham Wilkins owns Paluski canoes,” he explained. “He basically said 'I have half a canoe that I think that would be a great thing for you to go down the hill' and I did it with no thought.”
The annual Swimathon is on March 3 at 7 a.m. at the YMCA of Peterborough. The public is encouraged to participate in the event or perform a virtual swim or splash at home while raising funds and sharing it on social media tagging the fundraising’s Facebook page.
Participants can register as an individual or as a team online where they will be assigned a fundraising page. The public can also make a donation directly via the website and receive an instant tax receipt.
Easter Seals and YMCA Receive $15,000 From Carl Oake Rotary Swim
/After months of crazy stunts such as downhill sledding, fire hoses and shopping carts off docks, Rotary Club of Peterborough’s Carl Oake Rotary Swim has raised $15,000 for Easter Seals Ontario and the YMCA in a cheque presentation on Tuesday.
Photo courtesy of Rotary Club of Peterborough.
Easter Seals received $12,000 while the YMCA got $3,000 of the total donation.
The 36th annual Carl Oake Rotary Swimathon was held on Feb. 25 where individuals or teams were encouraged to swim a few laps at the YMCA to raise money Easter Seals and Rotary Projects.
Those unable to attend were encouraged to do a virtual at-home swim or splash at home while raising funds and sharing it on social media tagging the fundraising’s Facebook page.
To date, over $1.3 million dollars has been raised.
Carl Oake Rotary Swimathon Raises Over $50,000 For Easter Seals And Rotary Projects
/The Rotary Club of Peterborough and Century 21 United have announced that the 36th Annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim has surpassed their $45,000 goal and raised more than $50,000 with this year’s swim, to date, on Monday.
Carl Oake and his daughter Rene. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Donated will be collected until March 18 and benefit Easter Seals and Rotary programs in our community.
On Feb. 25 more than 50 swimmers and volunteers gathered at the YMCA of Central East Ontario to participate in the swim. This was the first in person event since COVID restrictions forced the annual swim to go virtual.
“This is our largest fundraiser of the year,” said Wayne Harding, president of the Rotary Club, at the event.
Harding notes that in the past funds raised from the Carl Oake Rotary Swimathon have been used for projects like Camp Kawartha and a shade shelter in Rotary Park.
Over the years the Carl Oake Swimathon has raised over $1.3 million for Easter Seals and Rotary projects.
While the Feb. 25 event went swimmingly, Carl Oake noted that it was not as big as past years, though he did say it was refreshing to be back in person.
To donate to the Carl Oake Rotary Swimathon click here.
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Fundraisers Make A Splash At 36th Annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim
/Participants in the 36th annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim made a splash at the YMCA on Friday morning.
Former Easter Seals ambassador Mitchell McColl and Renee Oake at Friday’s swim. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Carl Oake started this event 36 years ago. He says he was inspired by the work the Easter Seals did because of his relatives. His mother’s twin sister contracted polio in the 1950s while a cousin of his was born with spina bifida - both physically debilitating diseases.
The donations gathered by the annual swim go to the Easter Seals - an organization that helps children, youth and young adults with physical disabilities. They also go to The Rotary Club of Peterborough.
As Oake chatted with friends and reporters at the swim, he dropped everything when Mitchell McColl came onto the pool deck.
McColl was the Easter Seals ambassador in 2012, and has attended the Carl Oake Swim every year since.
“That’s why we do it,” Oake said, gesturing to McColl.
T-shirts worn by participants feature a photo of Oake and McColl from the 2012 swim.
McColl and Oake on the pool deck. Photo by Angela O’Grady.
Presented by Baker Tilly, to date this event has fundraised $1.32 million for Easter Seals and Rotary Projects in the area.
“This is our largest fundraiser of the year,” said Wayne Harding, president of the Rotary Club. “With the $1.32 million we’ve done lot’s of great projects around the community over the years. We founded Camp Kawartha, we recently built a shade shelter in Rotary Park - if you walk around the community you’ll see lots of Rotary plaques.”
The Carl Oake Rotary Swim fundraising page will remain open to donations until March 11. To help them reach their goal of $45,000, click here.
