City swimming lessons make transition

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/12/2022 (1215 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BY KALKIDAN MULUGETA

SPECIAL TO CANSTAR

WINNIPEG

Before you dive in to register for swimming lessons offered by the City of Winnipeg in 2023, you should know they will look a little different.

The Canadian Red Cross has decided it will no longer provide swimming and lifeguarding programs, as it has done for decades, in order to direct more attention to other areas of humanitarian demand. So, in Winnipeg’s Winter 2023 Leisure Guide, the Lifesaving Society of Canada’s Swim for Life program will take its place.

The Lifesaving Society is a non-profit charity whose mission is to prevent drownings and improve water safety.

“Learning to swim is a necessary foundational step for us to eliminate drownings and water related injuries,” said Dr. Christopher Love, Water Smart and safety management co-ordinator at the Lifesaving Society Manitoba.

The Swim for Life program includes classes for parents and younger kids from ages three to five, as well as classes for kids aged six and up. Information on the transition and a chart showing the previous Red Cross levels with the equivalent Swim for Life levels, are on the Lifesaving Society’s website, lifesaving.mb.ca

Love said there aren’t many differences between the two programs — skills learned in one level in the Red Cross program may be taught at a different level in Swim for Life — but the day-to-day is still the same. The most noticeable differences will be in visual items such as badges and report cards.

“You’re still going to have kids learning front crawl and back crawl, breaststroke, and doing diving and treading water,” Love said

The Red Cross offered 10 levels in its program and there are still the equivalent of 10 levels in the Lifesaving’ Society’s program.

The price of swimming lessons will change minimally and pointed out that, if cost is an issue, the city has a fee subsidy program. Families who want to find out what levels their kids’ swimming skills are at can call 311 to arrange a no-charge assessment.

Parents and families unsure of which level to register at can contact 311. The Lifesaving Society is also open to answering questions about the transition or about transferring certifications. Contact info@lifesaving@mb.ca

The Red Cross is still offering CPR and first aid training. If Winnipeggers hold Red Cross Lifeguard or Red Cross water safety instructor certifications, the deadline to transfer those certifications is Dec. 31, 2022.

The City of Winnipeg’s Winter 2023 Leisure Guide is now available and registration opens at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 13.