Learning how to swim can prepare you for a lifetime of fun, fitness and water safety. Register for swimming lessons at one of our indoor pools, or at Harry Class during the summer.

Register for swimming lessons

Main page content:

  1. COVID-19 updates
  2. Summer registration dates
  3. Where we offer swimming lessons
  4. Swimming lesson descriptions
  5. Private lessons
  6. Lifeguard training

COVID-19 updates

All City of Kitchener pools are closed for public use

Ontario is in a state of emergency and under a stay-at-home order. This is in addition to the current provincewide shutdown.

Program participants will receive a full refund for classes missed during the shutdown period. Payments made by credit card will be refunded to the same card, where possible. All other customers will receive a credit to their account.

Visit our COVID-19 updates page to learn what's open and closed as well as how city services are affected.

Summer registration dates

You can register for summer lessons on these days:

  • July lessons: June 15
  • August lessons: July 6

On both days, registration opens at 8:30 a.m. Register on ActiveNet.

Where we offer swimming lessons

You can register for swimming lessons at one of these pools:

Swimming lesson descriptions

You can find a description of each level below. We are offering fewer lessons than usual due to physical distancing guidelines. Check for the appropriate levels and bundles under lesson titles.

Adult & Tot/Adult & Tot Advanced

Building foundation swimming skills with parent through playful water discovery and introducing safe play in water with parent.

Age: 9 months to 30 months

Level highlights:

  • Entries and exits with assistance from parent
  • Child voluntarily puts face in water
  • Child pushes off ledge or steps in to water to parent
  • Submersion with assistance from parent

Class capacity: 4 (parent participation required)

Toddler Program  

Developing independence with instructor/facility while building foundation swimming skills through playful water discovery.

Age: 2 to 3 years

Appropriate for swimmers in these levels:

  • Tots and Sometimes Me
  • Supertots

Level highlights:

  • Vertical movement through water with assistance
  • Blow bubbles, unassisted

Class capacity: 4 (parent participation required)

Level 1

Swimmers will learn how to submerge, float, glide on front and back, and jump into chest deep water.

Age: 3 years and older

Appropriate for swimmers in levels B, C and D.

Level highlights:

  • Front/back float
  • Glides
  • Jump into chest deep water, unassisted

Class capacity: 4 (parent participation required)

Level 2

Swimmers will learn how to use forward and underwater propulsive movement with arms.

Age: 4 years and older

Appropriate for swimmers in levels E and F.

Level highlights:

  • Front crawl
  • Back crawl
  • Eggbeater
  • Whip kick
  • 5m and 10m distance

Class capacity: 4 (parent participation required)

Level 3

Swimmers will develop confidence and independence in the water. Swimmer will be introduced to deep water.

Age: 6 years and older

Appropriate for swimmers in levels G and H.

Level highlights:

  • Front crawl with side breathing
  • Side glide with arms
  • Whip kick on back
  • Breaststroke
  • Sitting dive entry
  • 15m and 25m distance swim

Class capacity: 4 (parent participation required)

Level I

Swimmer will focus on stroke fundamentals.

Age: 7 years or older

Level highlights:

  • Elementary backstroke
  • Dolphin kick
  • Entries: kneeling dive, forward roll
  • 50m distance swim

Class capacity: 4

Level J

Swimmer will focus on stroke efficiency.

Age: 7 years or older

Level highlights:

  • Sidestroke with scissor kick
  • Dive
  • Foot first surface dive
  • 75m distance swim

Class capacity: 4

Level K

Swimmer will develop strokes for lifelong training.

Age: 8 years or older

Level highlights:

  • Butterfly
  • Eggbeater travelling backward with object
  • 150m distance swim in 6 min

Class capacity: 4

Level L

Swimmer will develop stroke endurance and water rescue skills.

Age: 9 years or older

Level highlights:

  • Developing strokes for lifelong training
  • 250m distance swim in 8 minutes
  • 25m sprint in 40 seconds

Class capacity: 4

Level M

Swimmer will improve stroke endurance and water rescue skills.

Age: 9 years or older

Level highlights:

  • Developing strokes for lifelong training
  • 400m distance swim

Class capacity: 4

>Level N

Swimmer will review all strokes for proficiency and endurance.

Age: 10 years or older

Level highlights:

  • 10lb object support for 2 minutes
  • Timed swims:
    • 350m in 10 minutes
    • 50m sprint in 50 seconds

Class capacity: 4

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.