Jim Gray honoured after symbolic swim across Canada

Calgary philanthropist Jim Gray completed his symbolic swim across Canada Friday at the Eau Claire YMCAas the downtown recreation centre was renamed in his honour.

A crowd including MayorNaheedNenshiand CanadianparalympianRick Hansen cheered the 81-year-old on from the deck of theEauClaire YMCApool this morning as he completed his challenge.

It took Gray300,000 lengths and 23 years to finish his swim marathon.

"I'm not a very good swimmer but I enjoy it,"said Gray.

For the last two decades, Gray hasrisen at the crack of dawn to dive into theEauClaire YMCA pool.

His swim across Canada started in 1992 when lifeguards at the pool challenged him and some other early risers to swim from Calgary to Vancouver.

"It took us three, or three and a half, years," he said.

"Almost 40,000 lengths of the pool," addsGray, who jokingly added that he "flew back" from Vancouver to Calgary.

A ceremony washeld Fridaymorning to celebrate Grays swim marathon and his longtime support.AlbertaPremier Jim Prentice was even on hand.

Gray has been called a pioneer in the oilpatch. He chaired the first Petroleum Show in 1966 but is now the volunteer lifetime director of YMCA Calgary.

The organization is in the midst of a fundraiser that hasbrought in more than $1milliontowards the operation of three newfacilities.