Learn to Swim
We are proud to offer the Lifesaving Society Swim for Life Program - a high-quality swim exprience led by our exceptionally skilled and passionate instructors. While our program is small, we are committed to providing a personalized and supportive learning environment where every swimmer can thrive.
Our Philosophy:
We believe that every child learns at their own pace. Our focus is building confidence, skill, and safety in the water - never rushing development or placing swimmers in levels that are beyond their current abilities. Challening children too early can lead to fear and setbacks, and our prioritiy is aways a positive and progressive aquatic experience.
Our Program:
We offer both group lesson and private lessons in a low-ratio setting, allowing for more individiualized instruction and better results:
-Preschool Program: 1 instructor to 3 participants
-Swimmer Levels 1-6: Ratios range from 1:4-(Swimmer 1), to a maximum of 8 (Swimmer 6)
Fall/Winter Term:
Group lessons run once a week on Wednesday evenings or Saturday mornings
-Both group and private options are available on both days
Ready to Dive in:
Registraton for new swimmers for our Fall 2025 session will open online August 19th at 1:00pm.
Register online at under Program Registration, followed by Aquatics.
Program Descriptions
Preschool Program - 3 to 5 year olds:
Preschool 1: These preschoolers will have fun learning to get in and out of the water. We’ll help them jump into chest deep water. They’ll try floats on their front and back, and glides on their back while wearing a Personal Flotation Device. They’ll learn to get their face wet and blow bubbles underwater. This class is 30 min long.
Preschool 2: These preschoolers learn to jump into chest deep water by themselves, and get in and get out wearing a Personal Flotation Device. They’ll submerge and exhale underwater. They’ll glide on their front and back while wearing a Personal Flotation Device. This class is 30 minutes long.
Preschool 3: These youngsters will try both jumping and a side roll into deep water while wearing a Personal Flotation Device. They’ll recover objects from the bottom in waist-deep water. They’ll work on kicking and gliding through the water on their front and back. This class is 30 minutes long.
Preschool 4: Advanced preschoolers will learn to do solo jumps into deeper water and get out by themselves. They’ll do side roll entries and open their eyes underwater. They’ll master a short (3–5 m) swim on their front and gliding and kicking on their side.
Preschool 5: Participants will get more adventuresome with a forward roll entry wearing a PFD and holding their breath underwater for up to 10 sec. They’ll work on longer front and back crawl swims, interval training, and whip kick. This class is 30 minutes long.
Swimmer Program - 5 to 12 year olds:
Swimmer 1: These beginners will become comfortable jumping into water with and without a Personal Flotation Device. They’ll learn to open their eyes, exhale and hold their breath underwater. They’ll work on floats, glides and kicking through the water on their front and back. This class is 30 min long. Max 4 participants per Instructor.
Swimmer 2: These advanced beginners will jump into deeper water, and learn to be comfortable falling sideways into the water wearing a Personal Flotation Device. They’ll be able to support themselves at the surface without an aid, learn whip kick, swim 10–15 m on their front and back, and be introduced to flutter kick interval training (4 x 9–12 m). This class is 30 min long. Max 5 participants per Instructor.
Swimmer 3: These junior swimmers will dive and do in-water front somersaults. Their new bag of tricks includes handstands and completion of the Canadian Swim to Survive Standard. They’ll work on 10–15m of front crawl, back crawl and whip kick. Flutter kick interval training increases to 4 x 25 m. This class is 45 min long. Max 6 participants per Instructor.
Swimmer 4: These intermediate swimmers will swim 5 m underwater and lengths of front, back crawl, whip kick, and breaststroke arms with breathing. They’ll cap it all off with front crawl sprints over 25 m and 4 x 25 m front or back crawl interval training. This class is 45 min long. Max 7 participants per Instructor.
Swimmer 5: These swimmers will master shallow dives, cannonball entries, eggbeater kicks, and in-water backward somersaults. Surface dives will take them down to underwater swims. They’ll refine their front and back crawl over 50 m swims of each, and breaststroke over 15–25 m. Then they’ll pick up the pace in 25 m sprints and two interval training bouts: 4 x 50 m front or back crawl; and 4 x 10–15 m breaststroke. This class is 45 min long. Max 8 participants per Instructor.
Swimmer 6: Swimmers will rise to the challenge of sophisticated aquatic skills including stride entries, compact jumps and lifesaving kicks like eggbeater and scissor kick. They’ll develop strength and power in head-up breaststroke sprints over 25 m. They’ll easily swim lengths of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke, and they’ll complain about the 300 m workout. This class is 45 min long. Max 8 participants per Instructor.
Adult Program - Ages 15 and up:
Intro to Adult 1: This program is for beginner level participants who have little or no swimming background. This program will include safe entry/exit to and from the pool, submersion and exhalation under water, as well as the basics of front and back floating and kicking. This class is 45 min long and has a max of 4 participants per Instructor.
Adult 1: You’ll work towards a 10–15 m swim on your front and back. You’ll do jump entries from the side and recover an object from the bottom in chest-deep water. Improve your fitness and your flutter kick with 4 x 9–12 m interval training. This program is for participants who may be nervous in/around the water and are not comfortable in deep water. Participants should be able to perform 25 metres of front crawl before progressing to Adult 2. This class is 45 min long and has a max of 4 participants per Instructor.
Adult 2: Kick it up a notch working on two interval training workouts of 4 x 25 m kicking and front or back crawl. You’ll be able to perform dive entries and demonstrate breaststroke arms and breathing over 10–15 m. You’ll be supporting yourself at the surface for 1–2 minutes, and showing off your handstands in shallow water. This class is 45 min long and has a max of 6 participants per Instructor.
Adult 3: Our Adult 3 group will be working on 300 metre + workouts and sprinting 25 - 50 metres. You'll master your front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke! Participants should have Adult 2 swimming ability or equivalent before registering in this level. This class is in deep water. This class is 45 min long and has a max of 6 participants per Instructor.
Quick Reference Chart:
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If your child can/is… |
Suggested SWIM FOR LIFE level |
Previously in Red Cross Previously in YMCA |
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3 – 5 years and just starting out on his/her own |
Preschool 1 3 – 5 year olds |
Sea Otter Bobbers (incomplete) |
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Jump into chest deep water assisted, float/ glide in a PFD on front/back, blow bubbles & get face wet with no hesitation |
Preschool 2 3 – 5 year olds |
Salamander Bobbers completed |
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Can get in & out alone, jump into chest deep water, submerge & exhale underwater (with comfort), float on front & back assisted for 3 – 5 sec |
Preschool 3 3 – 5 year olds |
Sunfish Floaters (incomplete) |
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Can jump into deep water wearing a PFD; recover objects from the bottom; hold breath underwater with no hesitation; float and glide on front and back without assistance |
Preschool 4 3 – 5 year olds |
Crocodile Floaters completed |
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Can do jumps into deep water without assistance and climb out on own; swim front crawl 3 – 5metres; flutter kick on front, back and side |
Preschool 5 3 – 5 year olds |
Whale |
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5 – 12 years and just starting out |
Swimmer 1 5 – 12 year olds |
Swim Kids 1 (incomplete) Otter |
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Can jump into water without a PFD; open eyes & hold breath without hesitation; float, kick & glide on front & back without assistance |
Swimmer 2 5 – 12 year olds |
Swim Kids 1 complete Seal |
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Can jump into deeper water; support self at the surface without an aid; do whip kick in the vertical position; swim 10 – 15 m on front and back |
Swimmer 3 |
Swim Kids 2/3 Completed Swimmer |
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Can complete the Canadian Swim to Survive Standard – roll into pool; tread water 1 minute; swim 50 metres; whip kick on back |
Swimmer 4 |
Swim Kids 4/5 Completed Star 1 |
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Can do dives; swim underwater; tread water for 2 minutes; 25 m of front crawl and back crawl; whip kick on front; breaststroke arms and breathing |
Swimmer 5 |
Swim Kids 6 Completed Star 2 |
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Can do shallow dives and cannonballs; stationary eggbeater kick; 50 m front and back crawl; breaststroke 15 – 25 m; sprint 25 m |
Swimmer 6 |
Swim Kids 7 Completed Star 3 |
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Stride entries and compact jumps; eggbeater kick; scissor kick; sprint breaststroke over 25 m; swim 300 metres continuously |
Swim Patrol 3 levels – Rookie, Ranger, Star All taught at same time |
Swim Kids 8 – 10 Completed Star 4 - 6 |
