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Martingrove CI Teacher Swims the English Channel to Support Food Bank

Categories: News

Sam Garrison, a math teacher at Martingrove Collegiate Institute, accomplished an extraordinary feat this summer for a great cause: swimming across the English Channel to raise funds for the Daily Bread Food Bank.

On July 26–27, Mr. Garrison completed the gruelling 16-hour swim, becoming one of only a few dozen Canadians ever to cross the Channel. Beyond the physical and mental challenge, he dedicated his swim to the Daily Bread Food Bank, an organization that plays a vital role in supporting people experiencing food insecurity across Toronto. Mr. Garrison’s mother has volunteered at Daily Bread for years, and through her, he learned about the exponential increase in demand and the deepening food insecurity crisis, particularly among newcomers.

Check out some of the media coverage of Mr. Garrison’s incredible swim:

  • Mr. Garrison was featured on The Big Story podcast, .
  • The Daily Bread Food Bank highlighted his efforts as a journey of "courage and compassion." .
  • Mr. Garrison was featured on Breakfast Television and you can see the .
  • South Etobicoke News also celebrated his achievement, .

Congratulations to Mr. Garrison on this remarkable accomplishment and for inspiring both his students and the wider community!
 

Sam Garrison, a math teacher at Martingrove Collegiate Institute, accomplished an extraordinary feat this summer for a great cause: swimming across the English Channel to raise funds for the Daily Bread Food Bank.

A smiling man sits on a boat after a swim, wearing a knit beanie and a white T-shirt that reads “Sam I Am, Sam I Swam” with a cartoon swimmer on it. His arms are covered in white zinc sunscreen, and handwritten notes are visible on one forearm. The sea and a distant coastline with cliffs and a lighthouse appear in the background under a cloudy sky.
A satellite map shows a pink dashed line marking a swimming route across open water, numbered from 1 to 16. The route begins near Gallivanton the left side of the map, moves outward past Anastasia , and curves toward the right side, passing ZC2, before finishing near Sea Satin on the coast. The path gradually arcs in a U-shape from Gallivant to Sea Satin.