“My Hydronyms are Lake & Ontario” Campaign Raises More Than $10,000 for Swim Drink Fish
More than 1,000 T-shirts, hoodies and hats sold to help keep Lake Ontario swimmable, drinkable and fishable.
TORONTO, ON, November 3, 2026 – The “My Hydronyms are Lake & Ontario” campaign has surpassed its goal selling more than 1,000 T-shirts, hoodies and hats in six weeks, raising more than $10,000 for Swim Drink Fish, the Canadian charity behind Lake Ontario Waterkeeper.
Supporters placed orders in 246 cities across Canada and the United States, from British Columbia to Prince Edward Island and the Yukon, to 19 U.S. states. Toronto, Ottawa and London led the way.
The campaign began with a joke. When the U.S. President tried to rename Lake Ontario, Prime Minister Mark Carney responded with a post about the beloved lake’s name, its Indigenous origins and its history, and used a word many Canadians had to look up: hydronym, the name of a body of water. Curious Public envisioned the line right away: “My Hydronyms are Lake and Ontario.”
“More than 1,000 people decided a joke about a word was worth wearing and worth funding. That’s a lot of support for a lake,” said Lloyd Rang, CEO, Curious Public, the public relations executive who created the campaign. “The attention will fade, but the work won’t, and this campaign just put $10,000 behind it.”
Over one weekend, Curious Public, Swim Drink Fish and Branded By Collins designed the logo, built an online store, planned the rollout and launched. Swim Drink Fish’s funny, lake-side social content helped carry the idea, and CBC News, Newstalk 1010, Strategy Online and others covered it.
“We’ve been standing up for Lake Ontario for more than 20 years. It’s great to see so many people join in, with a sense of humour, and help fund the work that keeps this lake healthy,” said Gregary Ford, Vice President of Swim Drink Fish and Lake Ontario Waterkeeper.
Ten dollars from every item sold goes to Swim Drink Fish to support its work protecting Lake Ontario, including water monitoring, community science and helping people connect with the water around them. The $10,000 donation will fund 1,000 water quality samples on Lake Ontario, ensuring people have access to the information they need to swim, drink, and fish the waters of Lake Ontario safely.
Swim Drink Fish and Curious Public thank everyone who bought, shared and wore the message, along with Branded By Collins for building and running the store.
Support Lake Ontario
The “My Hydronyms are Lake & Ontario” collection is still available at the Swim Drink Fish store.
About Swim Drink Fish / Lake Ontario Waterkeeper
Swim Drink Fish is a Canadian non-profit that connects people with water and protects access to clean, healthy waterways. It grew out of Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, whose work on the lake began more than 20 years ago. Its goal is water that is safe to swim in, drink and fish from. swimdrinkfish.ca
About Curious Public
Curious Public is a strategy-led communications and narrative firm. We help organizations make sense of complexity, be clear about what matters most, and show up confidently. We do thoughtful work for good people, using sound judgement, current tools, and decades of experience across business, politics, public affairs, communications, and community engagement. Clients trust us to advise leaders, shape narratives, guide strategy, and create communications that are timely, relevant, and smart. Everything we do is bespoke, grounded, and intentional, driven by curiosity and a clear understanding of who you are, who you serve, and what’s at stake. We make your message matter. curiouspublic.com
Media contact:
Anne Marie Aikins
annemarie@curiouspublic.com
