Learning how to swim can prepare you for a lifetime of fun, fitness and water safety. Register for swimming lessons at one of our pools.

Register for swimming lessons

Main page content:

  1. Registration
  2. Where we offer swimming lessons
  3. Swimming lesson descriptions
  4. Private lessons
  5. Lifeguard training

Registration

Registration for winter swimming lessons is open now. You can register for spring swimming lessons starting at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 7.

Register on ActiveNet

Register for swimming lessons or other programs on ActiveNet. Visit our ActiveNet questions page to find answers to common questions or watch our YouTube video to learn more about searching on ActiveNet.

Family swims are also available.

Where we offer swimming lessons

For lessons between September and December 2022, you can register for swimming lessons at these pools:

Swimming lesson descriptions

Open the accordions below to learn about the swimming lessons we offer at our pools.

Waterbabies

Objective: Develop parent/caregiver comfort for safe support of child in water through playful interaction with child (songs, games, etc).

Level highlights:

  • safe supports and holds of child
  • movement exploration in the water

Age: 3-12 months old

Parent or caregiver 12 years or older must be in water actively participating in learning journey
Adult & Tot

Objective: develop parent/caregiver comfort for safe support of child in water through playful interaction with child, introducing safe supports and holds of child and safe play in water with parent.

Level highlights:

  • entries/exits with assistance from parent
  • child voluntarily puts face in the water

Age: 9-18 months old

Parent or caregiver 12 years or older must be in water actively participating in learning journey
Adult & Tot Advanced
Objective: building foundation swimming skills with parent through playful water discovery.

Level highlights:

  • child pushes off ledge or steps into the water (caught by their parent)
  • submersion with assistance from parent

Age: 12-30 months old that have successfully completed Adult & Tot

Parent or caregiver 12 years or older must be in water actively participating in learning journey
Tots and (Sometimes) Me

Objective: progressive separation from parent to instructor while building foundation swimming skills through playful water discovery.

Level highlights:

  • vertical movement through water with assistance
  • head Orientation, assisted

Age: 2-4 years old. Child's first swim class, or successfully completed Adult and Tot Advanced

 

Parent or caregiver 12 years or older must be in water actively participating in learning journey
Supertots

Objective: developing independence with instructor/facility while building foundational swimming skills through playful water discovery.

Level highlights:

  • Vertical movement through water without assistance
  • Blows bubbles, unassisted

Age: 2-4 years old that have successfully completed Tots and (Sometimes) Me
Level B

Objective: Swimmer will learn to submerge with breath control

Level highlights:

  • horizontal movement through water with assistance
  • child puts head underwater, unassisted
Age: 3-5 years old, either new to lessons or coming from Supertots
Level C

Objective: Swimmer will learn how to float

Level highlights:

  • front and back float, without assistance
  • breath control under water for 3 seconds

Age: 3-5 years old that have successfully completed Level B
Level D

Objective: Swimmer will learn how to glide

Level highlights:

  • front and back glides, unassisted
  • jump into chest deep water, without assistance
Age: 3-5 years old that have successfully completed Level C

Level E

Objective: Swimmer will learn how to use forward underwater propulsive movement with arms

Level highlights:

  • front and back swim
  • intro to eggbeater
  • 5 metre swim
Age: 4-7 years that have successfully completed Level D
Level F

Objective: Swimmer will learn above water arm recovery, increasing stroke efficiency

Level highlights:

  • front and back crawl with windmill arms
  • whip kick on front
  • throwing assists
  • 10 metre swim

Age: 4-7 years that have successfully completed Level E
Level G

Objective: Swimmer will develop confidence and independence in the water

Level highlights:

  • side glide with arms
  • whip kick on back
  • HELP position
  • 15 metre swim
Age: 6 years and older that have successfully completed Level F
Level H

Objective: Swimmer will be introduced to deep water

Level highlights:

  • breaststroke
  • front crawl with side breathing (regular pattern)
  • sitting dive and stride entry
  • 25 metre swim
Age: 6 years and older that have successfully completed Level G
Level I

Objective: Swimmer will focus on stroke fundamentals

Level highlights:

  • eggbeater with hands in the air
  • dolphin kick
  • kneeling dive and forward roll entries
  • 50 metre swim

Age: 7 years and older that have successfully completed Level H

Swimmer must be comfortable swimming alone in deep water.

Level J

Objective: Swimmer will focus on stroke efficiency

Level highlights:

  • rescue breathing
  • intro to butterfly
  • foot first surface dives
  • 75 meter swim

Age: 7 years and older that have successfully completed Level I

Swimmer must be comfortable swimming alone in deep water.
Level K

Objective: Swimmer will develop strokes for lifelong training

Level highlights:

  • butterfly
  • intro to use of AED
  • conscious obstructed airway treatment
  • 150 metre swim in 6 min or less

Age: 8 years and older that have successfully completed Level J

Swimmer must be comfortable swimming alone in deep water.
Level L

Objective: Swimmer will develop stroke endurance and water rescue skills

Level highlights:

  • lifesaving kicks
  • object recovery
  • unconscious obstructed airway treatment
  • 250 metre swim in 8 min or less
  • 25 metres in 40 seconds or less

Age: 9 years and older that have successfully completed Level K

Swimmer must be comfortable swimming alone in deep water.
Level M

Objective: Swimmer will improve stroke endurance and further develop water rescue skills

Level highlights:

  • lifesaving defence methods
  • object search and recovery
  • CPR for adult and child victims
  • in water rescues while maintaining their own safety
  • 400 metre swim

Age: 9 years and older that have successfully completed Level L

Swimmer must be comfortable swimming alone in deep water.
Level N

Objective: Swimmer will review all strokes for proficiency and endurance and continue water rescue and first aid skill development in preparation for Lifesaving Society Bronze certifications

Level highlights:

  • support a 10 lb object at the surface of the water for 2 min
  • 600 metre distance swim
  • 350 metre swim in 10 min or less
  • 50 metre swim in 50 seconds or less
  • CPR for adult and child victims
  • conscious and unconscious obstructed airway procedures

Age: 10 years and older that have successfully completed Level M

Swimmer must be comfortable swimming alone in deep water.
Level 1

Objective: Swimmer will learn to put their face in the water, float, and glide

This level covers the skills in levels B, C, D

Level highlights:

  • face in water with breath control
  • front and back floats
  • front and back glides

Age:

  • Child 6-8 years
  • Pre-Teen 9-12 years
  • Teen 13-17 years
  • Adult 18 years and older
Level 2

Objective: Swimmer will learn to use arms for forward propulsive movement, and begin learning basic strokes

This level covers the skills in levels E, F

Level highlights:

  • front and back swim
  • intro to eggbeater
  • intro to whip kick
  • 10 metre swim

Age:

  • Child 6-8 years
  • Pre-Teen 9-12 years
  • Teen 13-17 years
  • Adult 18 years and older
Level 3

Objective: Swimmer will develop confidence and independence in the water, and will be introduced to deep water

This level covers skills in levels G, H


Level highlights:

  • whip kick on back
  • HELP position
  • breaststroke
  • front crawl with side breathing in a regular pattern
  • sitting dives and stride entries
  • 25 meter swim

Age:

  • Pre-Teen 9-12 years
  • Teen 13-17 years
  • Adult 18 years and older
Adapted Aquatics - Beginner (warm pool)

Adapted Aquatics - Beginner is for children and youth with special needs, with little or no swim experience. Program will take place in our warm water pool. Ratio is 1-1 with a volunteer. Each 40 minute class includes transition time to get in/out of the pool. Inclusion Membership is required to register.

Age: 4+
Adapted Aquatics - Intermediate/Advanced (25m pool)

Adapted Aquatics - Intermediate/Advanced is for children and youth with special needs, with any level of swim experience. Program will take place in our 25 metre pool. Ratio is 1-1 with a volunteer. Each 40 minute class includes transition time to get in/out of the pool. Inclusion Membership is required to register.

Age: 4+
Adapted Aquatics - Fit Swim (25m pool)

Adapted Aquatics Fit Swim is for swimmers with special needs. Swimmers are encouraged to develop strokes for fitness or competition. Fun way to keep active. Must be able to swim 25m and be comfortable in deep water without assistance. 1-1 support from a volunteer may not be available for all swimmers at this timeslot. Inclusion Membership is required to register.

Age: 13+

Private or drop-in lessons

We also offer private lessons. If you’re looking for one-on-one support or lessons outside of our schedule, contact your local pool for more information.

Lifeguard training

Learn about lifeguard and leadership training on our lifeguarding page. You can also learn about lifeguarding in Canada from the Lifesaving Society.