Swimming

Swimming Level 01 - Caregiver Participation (4 - 12 months)
Babies are introduced to water through songs, gradual submersion skills and back floats.

Swimming Level 02 - Caregiver Participation (13 - 24 months)
Begin breath control skills and basic to more advanced submersion techniques.

Swimming Level 03 - Caregiver Participation (25 months - 3 years)
Encourage safe and unassisted swim skills such as floats and front glide with kick.

Swimming Level 01 - Tots - Beginner (3 years)
Songs and imagery are used for a gradual introduction to getting wet, blowing bubbles, submersions and relaxed assisted back floats.

Swimming Level 02 - Tots - Advanced (3 years)
Progress from assisted floats to unassisted glides on both front and back. For the three year olds comfortable submerging and with relaxed assisted back float.

Swimming Level 01 - Preschool (4 - 6 years)
Water orientation includes songs and imagery for a gradual introduction to getting wet, blowing bubbles, submersions, and relaxed assisted back floats.

Swimming Level 02 - Preschool (4 - 6 years)
Progress to unassisted glides on both front and back. For swimmers comfortable submerging and performing a relaxed
assisted back float.

Swimming Level 03 - Preschool (4 - 6 years)
Develop kicks with front and back glides and learn to transfer body weight from one glide to another.

Swimming Level 04 - Preschool (4 - 6 years)
Learn the breathing position and breathe control for front swim. Kicking during a back swim continues to be refined.

Swimming Level 05 - Preschool (4 - 6 years)
Begin arm propulsion and coordination for front swim, with focus on streamlining and body roll with back swims.

Swimming Level 06 - Preschool (4 - 6 years)
Over arm recovery for both front and back crawl are introduced. Students will be challenged with distances to prepare them for Swimming Level 03 - Children.

Swimming Level 01 - Children (6 - 14 years)
Focus on fundamental skills including submersions, front and back floats and glides. An introductory class for students who are non-swimmers.

Swimming Level 02 - Children (6 - 14 years)
Learn a propulsive kick on both front and back glides, and to transfer body weight from one glide to another. Introduces the front swim breathing position.

Swimming Level 03 - Children (6 - 14 years)
Focus on correct breathing position, breath control, correct timing, and coordination of arm propulsion. Kick in back swim continues to be refined.

Swimming Level 04 - Children (6 - 14 years)
Learn over arm recovery for both front and back crawl and continue to increase propulsion.

Swimming Level 05 - Children (6 - 14 years)
Coordinate the full front crawl with a correct arm extension, and timing the body roll and kick with over arm recovery in back crawl.

Swimming Level 06 - Children (6 - 14 years)
Strengthen coordination of front and back crawls with correct arm entries. Both strokes are challenged to maintain strong techniques with progressive distances in preparation for moving to the deep end for level 7.

Swimming Level 07 - Children (6 - 14 years)
Refine body rotation and arm extension in front and back crawl while maintaining stroke technique. Streamline coordination through drill and whole stroke work are also a priority. Lessons take place primarily in the deep end.

Swimming Level 08 - Children (6 - 14 years)
Front and back crawl are further refined through minimizing resistance in arm recoveries and entry. Students are introduced to the dolphin kick.

Swimming Level 09 - Children (6 - 14 years)
Dolphin kick is strengthened and the mechanics of breast stroke pull are learned. Drill work for front and back crawl focuses on maximizing propulsion in the arm pull.

Swimming Level 10 - Children (6 - 14 years)
Strengthen the mechanics of breast stroke pull and develop a strong isolated breast stroke kick. Continue to develop back and front crawl.

Swimming Level 11 - Children (6 - 14 years)
Improve coordination in breast stroke and begin the butterfly stroke. Advanced front and back drills focus on strength and endurance.

Swimming Level 12 - Children (6 - 14 years)
Butterfly is introduced. All strokes are evaluated to competitive level proficiency. Students are introduced to the individual medley (I.M.).

Swimfit - Children (6 - 14 years)
Increase endurance and prepare for lifeguarding and aquatic leadership courses. Must complete Swimming Level 12 -
Children to enroll in this course.

Swimming Level 01 - Adult and Youth (15+ years)
Start in shallow water and focus on water orientation, floats glides, and breath control. For adults with little or no swimming experience.

Swimming Level 02 - Adult and Youth (15+ years)
Focus on adding propulsion to both front and back swims. For adults who can glide and kick on both front and back.

Swimming Level 03 - Adult and Youth (15+ years)
Over arm recovery is introduced for both front and back crawl with a focus on coordinating both strokes.

Swimming Level 04 - Adult and Youth (15+ years)
Refine front and back crawl and increase propulsion for both strokes.

Swimfit - Adult (15+ years)
Designed to increase endurance in all strokes and introduce knowledge of swim workouts. Must complete Adult Level 04 to enroll in this class.

Bronze Medallion (13+ years)
Be challenged mentally and physically, and learn the four components of water rescue: judgment, knowledge, skill, and
fitness. Acquire the assessment and problem-solving skills needed to make good decisions in, on, and around water. Manual and pocket mask are included in the cost of the course. 100% attendance is mandatory. Not eligible for subsidy. Prerequisite: Participants must be 13 years of age or older and swim at a Breaking Waves Swim Level 11 ability, or Swim for Life Star Patrol Level 9.

Bronze Cross (13+ years)
Strengthen and expand lifesaving skills and begin to apply the principles and techniques of active surveillance in aquatic facilities. Learn the importance of teamwork and communication in preventing and responding to aquatic emergencies. 100% attendance is mandatory. This course is worth two grade 11 high school credits. Not eligible for subsidy. Prerequisite: Participants must hold a Bronze Medallion certification and be 13 years of age or older.

National Lifeguard - Pool Option (15+ years)
Designed to develop the fundamental values, judgment, knowledge, skills and fitness required by lifeguards. Learn lifeguarding skills, principles, practices, and the decisionmaking processes that help lifeguards provide effective safety supervision in swimming pool environments. 100% attendance is mandatory. This course is worth two grade 12 high school credits. Not eligible for subsidy. Prerequisite: Participants must be 15 years of age or older, hold a Bronze Cross and Standard First Aid Certificate.

Lifesaving Instructor Upgrade (15+ years)
Focus on advanced teaching methods, lesson planning, and evaluating techniques specific to lifesaving programs. For experienced Lifesaving Society Swim Instructors who wish to expand their qualifications to include teaching and evaluating the Society’s Bronze Star, Bronze Medallion, and Bronze Cross awards. This course is worth one grade 11 credit. This course requires 100% attendance.

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When you go into the water clean, the water and air quality stay safe. 

Keep our pools fresh, and open for everyone!

We know everyone is excited to get into the pool, but wait! You need to take a quick shower before you jump in. Here's why:

Pools contain chlorine which acts as a disinfectant to help kill harmful bacteria and germs. But when chlorine binds to sweat, dirt, and skin cells it creates a reaction that produces chloramine. This reaction results in the strong odor that is often associated with swimming pools and it can also cause skin to become irritated and dry. 

Before you enter our pools, please thoroughly wash your body with soap to help remove body oils, cosmetic products, and other microbes found on the skin and hair.

A pre-swim shower helps to eliminate perspiration, body oils, and bacteria from entering the water. When you wash away the impurities, the chlorine in the pool doesn’t have to work so hard. The water is cleaner and the air we breathe is fresher.

Keep it Fresh! Shower before you swim.

Staff follow strict protocols governed by the BC Public Health Act. After a contamination occurs, the required length of time the pool will be closed varies based on the situation.

When a pool is contaminated, how long the pool is closed depends on:

• The type of contaminant (vomit, fecal matter, blood, etc.)
• The time it takes to remove all contaminations from the pool
• The current chlorine level

If you feel an urge, or your tummy is upset, please stay out of the pool so everyone else can stay in.

Why do I need to shower before entering the pool?
Pools contain chlorine which acts as a disinfectant to help kill harmful bacteria and germs. When sweat, dirt, and skin cell particles from our bodies react with chlorine, it produces a reaction that results in the strong odor that is often associated with swimming pools. This chemical reaction can also cause eyes and skin to become irritated and dry. 

A pre-swim shower helps to eliminate perspiration, body oils, and bacteria from entering the water. When you wash away the impurities, the chlorine in the pool doesn’t have to work so hard. The water is cleaner and the air we breathe is fresher.

Do I need to use soap and shampoo?
Yes, before you enter the pool, please thoroughly wash your body with soap to help remove body oils, cosmetic products, fecal matter, and other microbes found on the skin and hair. Soap (but not shampoo) will be available in the shower area. 

Do I need to wash my hair if I’m not going to get it wet?
If you will not be getting your hair wet, you do not need to wash your hair. We also encourage swimmers to wear a swim cap while swimming.  

Do children need to shower before swimming lessons?
Yes, everyone must shower before entering the pools and hot tubs.