Swimming Lessons and Programs

• Come ready to swim! Remember your bathing suit and towel! Bathing suits should not have built-in floatation, and you do not need to bring a PFD to lessons.  For beginner swimmers, goggles can be a false sense of security. If your swimmer feels that they need goggles, they may bring them; although your instructor will encourage swimmers to be comfortable without goggles.
• Shower before you swim.
• Help us keep our pool water safe and prevent pool contamination. Please refrain from eating large meals before swimming. All swimmers are encouraged to visit the washroom before entering the pool; those without bowel control are required to wear a swim diaper. 
• Strollers are not permitted on the pool deck.
• Learning to swim is more than just swimming lessons. Practice swimming skills outside of lessons – join a family or public swim to reinforce what is learned in lessons. Ask your instructor what skills should be practiced, or refer to the charts posted in the pool viewing areas for a summary of each level’s skills.
• Focus on SAFE and SUCCESSFUL. Learning to swim is a life skill, and it takes time. Allow your swimmer to progress at their own rate, and keep realistic expectations. Remember, learning to swim is about mastering the skills to be safe in the water, not about passing the levels.
• Talk to your instructor & the Supervisor. Ask about successes and areas of improvement. Have a concern? Please let your instructor or the Lesson Supervisor know early in the session.

Need a little extra practice, or looking for 1:1 instruction? Private lessons are a great way to have an individualized swimming lesson experience! Some private lesson times are available to preregister for the full session on ActiveNet, our registration site. For additional information, please send us an email.

This introductory recreational level teaches youth aged 8 to 15 years lifesaving fundamentals, with a continued focus on stroke technique and endurance. In this coach-led program, athletes learn about swim workouts, team building, sport ethics and responsibility. Athletes progress at their own pace, completing skills like 300m workouts, dives, flip turns, throwing with a rescue tube and swimming under obstacles.

Learners with different needs (Behavioural, Developmental, Physical). Maximum of 1 instructor per 3 swimmers.

Adapted Aquatics Participant Profile will be completed for each swimmer to better understand their unique learning needs.

Preschool Preschool 1-5

Beginner Swimmer 1-2

Intermediate Swimmer 3-5

Strokes Swimmer 6-8

These group lessons are tailored to your swimming and water safety goals.

Swim Basics 1 For those new to swimming – become more comfortable in the water, including holding your breath, floating, deep water comfort, and treading water. You will gain confidence learning front and back crawl.

Swim Basics 2 Building on the fundamental skills, you will work on stroke technique (front crawl, back crawl, breast stroke, etc.), build fitness & endurance, and learn how to incorporate swimming into your fitness regime.

Prerequisite: Due to the physical nature of this in–water course, it is strongly recommended that candidates have completed the Swimmer 11 level.

Prerequisite: 13 years of age OR Bronze Star.  Competent swimming abilities are required. 

Enhance your rescue and lifesaving skills! Practice more complex rescues, including rescuing multiple victims, long distance rescues, and spinal injuries in deep water. 

Prerequisite: Bronze Medallion. 

Prerequisites: 14 years of age and Bronze Cross.

Learn how to respond confidently in a medical
emergency! This course covers medical/legal information, CPR and AED response, as well as recognizing and
responding to medical conditions, bone and joint injuries, burns, spinal injuries, heat/cold emergencies and more. 

Become a certified lifeguard! Learn about the legal side of lifeguarding, pool maintenance, emergency responding as both part of a team and as a single lifeguard. Candidates further refine their specialized lifesaving skills, fitness and judgment. Once you’ve taken your NL, you can apply to join our Aquatic Team as a Lifeguard!
Prerequisites: 16 years of age. Bronze Cross and Standard First Aid & CPR-C (from either Lifesaving Society, Canadian Red Cross, St. John Ambulance or Canadian Ski Patrol). 

This course prepares candidates to teach the Lifesaving
Society Learn to Swim levels for infants, children, adults and teens. There is a focus on lesson planning, understanding the principles of learning, safety supervision, teaching creatively and other strategies for teaching dynamic swimming lessons!  Want to join our Aquatic Team as an Instructor? Apply once certified!
Prerequisites: 16 years of age and Bronze Cross.

Course Prerequisites:

Please check course prerequisites before registering. Exceptions cannot be made, as they are mandated by certifying organizations and/or the law. Thank you for understanding. Please bring a copy of all prerequisites to the first day of the course.

Attendance:

Due to the intensity of information in these courses, 100% attendance and participation is required.

What to Bring to the Course:

Please bring the original copy of any prerequisites. Course manuals and materials will be provided on the first day of the course. For courses with an in-water portion, bathing suit(s) and towel(s) are required.
Recommended for every course: comfortable clothing, notebook, pens/pencils, snacks, lunch, water bottle.

Certification:

Many courses have an exam session. In order to be certified in a course, candidates must successfully complete all aspects of the course, at the discretion of the instructor and course examiner. This includes the exam, fitness requirements and written tests.

Unsuccessful Completion of a Course:

Unsuccessful candidates are required to retake the full course, to build the required confidence and skills.