Summer swimming lesson registration opens Thursday, June 20 at noon.
We provide swimming programs for everyone, no matter their age or skill level, all year long.
Register for swimming lessons
Looking for swimming lessons? Register today by visiting our recreation portal.
What swimming level should I register for?
Our swimming lesson levels line up with the Swim for Life Levels. If after reviewing the descriptions you are still unsure what level to register for, please come to a Leisure or Family Swim for a quick skill assessment.
Swim for Life Parented Program ages: 4 months - 5 years
Parent & Tot 1
Ratio: 1:8 - 1:10
Your child is 4 - 12 months old and ready to learn to enjoy the water with a parent/guardian. One caregiver per child participates in water, no previous swimming experience required.
Parent & Tot 2
Ratio: 1:8 - 1:10
Your child is 12 - 24 months old and ready to learn to enjoy the water with a parent/guardian. One caregiver per child participates in water, no previous swimming experience required.
Parent & Tot 3
Ratio: 1:8 - 1:10
Your child is 24 - 36 months old and ready to learn to enjoy the water with a parent/guardian. One caregiver per child participates in water, no previous swimming experience required.
Parent & Tot 4
Ratio: 1:8
Your child is 3 - 5 years old and ready to learn to swim and enjoy the water with a parent or guardian. One caregiver per child participates in water, no previous swimming experience required. This level includes the same skills covered in Preschool 1 & 2. Participation in this level is not required to move into preschool lessons. Moving into preschool levels depends on the child's age and willingness to participate without a parent or guardian in the water.
Swim for Life Preschool Program ages: 3 - 5 years
Preschool 1
Ratio:1:4
This level is for participants 3 - 5 years old who are ready to participate without a parent or guardian. Floating on front and back, gliding with kick, submersion and front swimming are introduced.
Preschool 2
Ratio:1:4
This level is for participants 3 - 5 years old who are comfortable floating unassisted. This level will focus on learning to enter and exit the water, progressing to jumping into chest-deep water unassisted. This level includes front and back swimming, submerge and exhale 3-4 times in a row and rolling from front to back.
Preschool 3
Ratio:1:4
This level is for participants 3 - 5 years old who are comfortable swimming one metre independently. This level will focus on increasing comfort and endurance, water entries and exits, and water safety. This level includes holding breath for three seconds, swimming 3-5 metres and object recovery in waist deep water.
Preschool 4
Ratio:1:4
This level is for participants 3-5 years old who are comfortable swimming five metres independently. This level will focus on learning to tread water, flutter kick and underwater swimming. Participants will be introduced to deep water entries and front crawl in a personal flotation device.
Preschool 5
Ratio:1:4
This level is for participants 3-5 years old who are comfortable treading water and swimming 15 metres independently. They will be introduced to back crawl, standing dives, deep water object recovery and swimming 25 metres continuously.
Swim for Life Program ages: 6-12 years
Swimmer 1
Ratio:1:6
Class length:30 minutes
This level is for participants 6-12 years old; no previous swimming experience required. Participants will be introduced to submerging in the water, opening their eyes underwater, floating, gliding, rolling from front to back, wearing a lifejacket and swimming. By the end of this level the hope is participants will be able to swim three metres independently.
Swimmer 2
Ratio:1:6
Class length:30 minutes
This level is for participants 6-12 years old, who are comfortable swimming three metres. This level will focus on increasing confidence and water proficiency. Swimmers will be introduced to underwater swimming, interval training and focus on increasing distance and technique in front and back swimming.
Swimmer 3
Ratio:1:6
Class length:30 minutes
This level is for participants 6-12 years old, who are comfortable swimming 10 metres. This level will focus on increasing strength, endurance and distance. Participants will be introduced to jumping into deep water, treading water, back crawl and a 25-metre distance swim.
Swimmer 4
Ratio:1:6
Class length:30 minutes
This level is for participants 6-12 years old who have completed Swimmer 3 and are able to swim 25 metres. This level will focus on technique and endurance in front crawl, back crawl and surface support/treading water. Participants will be introduced to diving, swim-to-survive skills, whip kick and a 50 metre-distance swim.
Swimmer 5
Ratio:1:8
Class length:45 minutes
This level is for participants 6-12 years old who have completed Swimmer 4, are comfortable in deep water and able to swim 50 metres continuously. This level will focus on improving technique and endurance in front crawl, back crawl, treading water and swimming underwater. Participants will be introduced to standing dives, sprints, breaststroke technique and a 75-metre distance swim.
Swimmer 6
Ratio:1:8
Class length:45 minutes
This level is for participants 6-12 years old who have completed Swimmer 5 and are able to swim 75 metres continuously. This level will focus on technique and endurance including front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke. Participants will be introduced to rescue drills, head-up front crawl and a 200-metre distance swim.
Swimmer 7: Fitness
Ratio:1:8
Class length:45 minutes
This level is for participants 6-12 years old who have completed Swimmer 6 and are able to swim 200 metres continuously. This level will focus on fitness including front crawl, back crawl, sprints and interval training. Participants will be introduced to a 300-metre distance swim, stretches for swimmers, shallow diving, flip turns and using dive blocks.
Swimmer 8: Rookie Patrol
Ratio:1:8
Class length:45 minutes
This level is for participants 8-12 years old; who are able to swim 300 metres continuously. This level will focus on increasing technique and endurance in front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke. Participants will be introduced to first aid skills, victim simulation and recognition, and rescue drills. Candidates receive the LSS Rookie Patrol badge upon completion of this level.
Swimmer 9: Ranger Patrol
Ratio:1:8
Class length:60 minutes
This level is for participants 8-12 years old who have completed Swimmer 8 and are able to swim 300 metres continuously in multiple strokes. This level will focus on increasing technique and endurance in front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke. Participants will be introduced to butterfly drills, victim recognition, victim care and in-water victim avoidance techniques.
Swim for Life Program for teens: 13-17 years
Teen Swimmer 1
Ratio options:1:6
Class length:45 minutes
This level is for participants 13-17 years old; no previous swimming experience needed. Lessons focus on gaining comfort in the water, introducing floating, gliding, submersion and swimming.
Teen Swimmer 2
Ratio options:1:8
Class length:45 minutes
This level is for participants 13-17 years old; comfortable swimming five or more metres. Lessons focus on improving technique and endurance for front and back swim; based on the participants' goals.
Teen Swimmer 3
Ratio options:1:8
Class length:45 minutes
This level is for participants 13-17 years old; comfortable swimming 25 metres. Lessons focus on improving technique and endurance for front and back swim; based on the participants' goals.
Swim for Life Program for adults: 18+ years
Adult Swimmer 1
Ratio options:1:6
Class length:45 minutes
This level is for participants 18-99 years old; no previous swimming experience needed. Lessons focus on gaining comfort in the water, introducing floating, gliding, submersion and swimming.
Adult Swimmer 2
Ratio options:1:8
Class length:45 minutes
This level is for participants 18-99 years old; comfortable swimming five or more metres. Lessons focus on improving technique and endurance for front and back swim; based on the participants' goals.
Adult Swimmer 3
Ratio options:1:8
Class length:45 minutes
This level is for participants 18-99 years old; comfortable swimming 25 metres. Lessons focus on improving technique and endurance for front and back swim; based on the participants' goals.
Need additional support?
If your child benefits from extra assistance at school, during transitions or in other activities, it's a good sign they might benefit from additional support during swimming lessons. Check out our Adapted Programs.
Aquatic certifications
Aquatic leadership programs help you learn teamwork, leadership, self-confidence, interpersonal skills and problem-solving abilities that are useful in various aspects of your life. If you want to begin a career as a lifeguard or instructorwith us, the first step is to successfully complete the National Lifeguard Service course and the Red Cross Water Safety Instructor course.
Register in person at Artillery Park Aquatic Centre or online in our recreation portal.
- Courses run at Artillery Park Aquatic Centre. In the summer, courses also run at Culligan Water Park. We recommend you bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat to Culligan Water Park.
- Bring your bathing suit and towel (you may want two of each), comfortable clothing, whistle, notebook, paper, pen, pencil, lunch, dinner, snacks, proof of age, pre-requisite certifications and all manuals used in previous courses.
- All manuals and certification fees are covered in your course cost. You are only required to pay for the courses themselves.
- Attendance is 100 per cent mandatory to pass all courses.
- If you have any previous certifications check that they are not outdated.
- If you have a certification from outside Ontario, check if there is an equivalency at Lifesaving Society or call 416-490-8844 for information.
Bronze Star
- Age requirement: eight to 15 years old
- Prerequisite: None
Bronze Star is a great way to get ready for Bronze Medallion. In this program, you will learn problem-solving and decision-making skills on your own and with a partner. You will also learn CPR and the essential lifesaving skills required to become a lifeguard. Plus, the course includes a 400-metre timed swim. It's a solid foundation for Bronze Medallion and lifeguarding.
Bronze Medallion
- Age requirement: 13 years old and up
- Prerequisite: Bronze Star or 13 years old
Bronze Medallion focuses on teaching the essential principles of water safety, rescue techniques, judgment, knowledge, skills and fitness. It's an important certification, particularly for waterfront supervision and is recognized under Ontario's Recreational Camp Regulation 568.
Bronze Cross
- Age requirement: None
- Prerequisite: Bronze Medallion
Bronze Cross is for experienced lifeguards who want more advanced training, including learning how to safely supervise pools. You need Bronze Cross before you can do advanced training like becoming a National Lifeguard or Instructor. There's also a 600-metre swim test. It's recognized as an assistant lifeguard certificate under Ontario's pool rules.
National Lifeguard
- Age requirement 15 years and up
- Prerequisite: Bronze Cross
National Lifeguard certification is the professional lifeguard standard in Canada. It teaches lifeguards important principles, how to make good decisions and how to approach their role with maturity and responsibility.
National Lifeguard Instructor Course
- Age requirement: 16 years and up
- Prerequisite: None
The National Lifeguard Instructor course teaches candidates the principles and methods that underlie the National Lifeguard program. It covers effective teaching methods suitable for National Lifeguard candidates.
If your National Lifeguard certification has expired and you want to work as a lifeguard again, you need to get recertified. We recommend retaking the entire course if it's been five years or more.
Candidates who do not pass their recertification must focus on the areas they failed in and make sure they have gained the necessary skills or knowledge before attempting a second recertification.
Standard First Aid
- Age requirement 13 years and up
- Prerequisite: None
Standard First Aid covers all aspects of first aid and CPR, including legal aspects, spinal injuries, temperature-related injuries, bone/joint injuries, chest injuries and medical emergencies. It also includes CPR-C certification.
Standard First Aid Instructor Course
- Age requirement: 16 years and up
- Prerequisite: None
The Lifesaving Society Standard First Aid Instructor course prepares candidates to teach first aid courses up to and including Standard First Aid and CPR-A, -B, -C.
Red Cross Water Safety Instructor
- Age requirement: 15 years and up
- Prerequisite: None
The Water Safety Instructor course teaches people to become instructors for Red Cross Swim programs. It shows how to introduce and improve fitness activities, swimming skills and water safety in different Red Cross Swim programs, including those for kids, adults and adapted programs.
