Swimming Lessons and Certifications

Winter swimming lesson registration is now open. Register using our recreation portal or in person at Artillery Park.

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 instructor with 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.

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.