Aquatics
Swim Lessons and Programs
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced swimmer, you can gain the skills and confidence you need to stay safe and enjoy our pool. The YMCA has been offering aquatics programming & swimming lessons to Canadians since the 1900s. Thousands of Canadians have learned to swim at the Y.
Determine What Swim Level is Right for Your Child
1. If your child has taken a YMCA swim lesson within the last 6 months, visit this page to see your child’s last swim report card. You will need your child’s membership number or access number.
2. If your child hasn’t taken a swim lesson contact the John W. Lindsay YMCA front desk Staff or consult the conversion chart below.
Become a Lifeguard or Swim Instructor!
Leadership Programs
Junior Lifesaving Sport Fundamentals
Lifesaving Sport Fundamentals – Level 1: Play Fair is the underlying principle emphasized in this level. Participants practice in-water starts, jump starts from the deck, and stroke work. The introduction of lifesaving sports skills includes obstacle swimming and object support.
Lifesaving Sport Fundamentals – Level 2: Respect for Others is a key theme in this level. Participants practice dive starts from the deck, open turns, in-water somersaults, strokes, and sculling, as well as throwing accuracy and towing a manikin with a rescue tube.
Junior Lifesaving Sport Fundamentals
Lifesaving Sport Fundamentals – Level 3: Participants set short-term goals in this level while they master challenging skills including relay transitions, flip turns, stroke work over longer distances, swimming with fins, and eggbeater kicks.
Lifesaving Sport Fundamentals – Level 4: In this level, participants set long-term goals and learn how to Stay Healthy. Skills include dive starts from the starting block, turns, 50 m sprint, advanced throwing accuracy, and advanced rescue tube and manikin tow skills.
Lifesaving Society’s Bronze Star with Fundamental First Aid
Recommended: completion of Star 4 – 6 is recommended
Lifesaving Society Bronze Medallion
Bronze Medallion teaches an understanding of the lifesaving principles embodied in the four components of water-rescue education – judgment, knowledge, skill, and fitness. Rescuers learn tows and carries, and defense methods and releases in preparation for challenging rescues of increased risk involving conscious and unconscious victims of various types. Lifesavers develop stroke efficiency and endurance.
Includes: Basic Workplace First Aid (Formerly known as Emergency First Aid)
Pre-Requisite: 13 years old or completed Lifesaving Society’s Bronze Star
Lifesaving Society Bronze Cross
As the Lifesaving Society’s Assistant Lifeguard certification, Bronze Cross prepares lifesavers for the safety supervision role and responsibilities of assistant lifeguards in aquatic facilities. Bronze Cross is a prerequisite for all advanced training programs including National Lifeguard and Instructor certification.
Includes: Intermediate Workplace First Aid (Formerly known as Standard First Aid)
Pre-Requisite: Completed Lifesaving Society's Bronze Medallion and Basic Workplace First Aid (Formerly known as Emergency First Aid)
National Lifeguard Pool with CPR-HCP
National Lifeguard education is designed to develop a sound understanding of lifeguarding principles, good judgment, and a mature and responsible attitude toward the role of the lifeguard. The course develops the basic lifeguarding skills, principles, and decision-making processes that will assist the lifeguard to evaluate and adapt to different aquatic facilities and emergencies.
Includes: Health Care Provider CPR certification
Pre-Requisite: Completed Lifesaving Society's Bronze Cross and Standard First Aid
YMCA Swim Instructor
Share your love of swimming with others! As a leader in the pool, you can play an essential role in helping others learn to swim and improve their health in many ways. You will learn a variety of teaching techniques, progressions, and more. To put it all into practice, you’ll also work alongside a certified YMCA Swim Instructor to teach children during a swim lesson.
Prerequisite(s): 15 yrs+, current Bronze Cross/National Lifeguard Certification, current Intermediate Workplace First Aid, and YMCA Aquatics Instructor Self Directed Learning Module Certificate.
Intermediate Workplace (Standard) First Aid
Intermediate Workplace First Aid (formerly Standard First Aid) includes CPR-C certification. Intermediate Workplace First Aid provides comprehensive training covering all aspects of first aid. Intermediate Workplace First Aid incorporates Basic Workplace First Aid (formerly Emergency First Aid) and is designed for those who require a more in-depth understanding of first aid including legal implications of first aid treatment, spinal injuries, heat or cold injuries, bone and joint injuries, chest injuries, and medical emergencies.
At Community YMCA
Intermediate Workplace First Aid Recertification
Intermediate Workplace First Aid (formerly Standard First Aid) includes CPR-C certification. Intermediate Workplace First Aid provides comprehensive training covering all aspects of first aid. Intermediate Workplace First Aid incorporates Basic Workplace First Aid (formerly Emergency First Aid) and is designed for those who require a more in-depth understanding of first aid including legal implications of first aid treatment, spinal injuries, heat or cold injuries, bone and joint injuries, chest injuries, and medical emergencies.
At Community YMCA
Admission Policy
- < 8 years must have a parent with them at all times, including in the water for drop-in swimming (lane swim, rec swim, family swim, etc.). <8 years are not allowed in the weight room, cardio centre, or group fitness classes unless otherwise stated for a special program/event.
- 9 – 12 years can access the facility with an adult/guardian (16+). They can use the weight room and/or cardio centre with a parent/guardian (16+). For the pool: they must be accompanied in the water by a parent/guardian (16+) if they require a PFD (personal floatation device) and/or they have not successfully completed a swim test. Once they have successfully completed a swim test the parent/guardian (16+) does not need to be in the water but must remain in the facility.
- 13 years and up can access the facility without adult supervision.
Child Protection Sign-in/out Policies
- For Child Safeguarding purposes, everyone entering our YMCA must scan their membership card at the welcome desk when they arrive, or sign in with our membership team using a Government-issued photo ID.
- Participants <12 years must have their parent/guardian (16+) check them in with the program instructor at the start of their program.
- The same parent/guardian (16+) must also check out the child <12 years with the program instructor at the end of the program.
- Parents who are not in the water can observe swimming lessons from the pool-level windows near the changerooms or from the Great Hall.
- Videography and photography are not permitted to ensure our member’s privacy.
Check our Aquatic Centre Schedule
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John W. Lindsay YMCA
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