by Heidi Craig

Searching for a spot to cool down? Look no further than the refreshing waters of the St Lawrence River. Yup, our trusty fleuve has been open to swimmers for the last 6 years, and enthusiasts swear it beats the heck out of overcrowded, chlorine-y public pools. Daily testing ensures the water stays swimmable, so put words like “cesspool,” “carcinogenic,” and “floating corpse whacked by the mob” out of your mind and dive right in!

For a map showing water quality and access points around town, visit http://www.rsma.qc.ca/rsmaweb/rsmaqrc.asp