Swimming programs

Fall swimming registration

Fall session two registration starts on Tuesday, October 6 at 7 a.m.
Session two highlights include: new dates / times for leadership programs and an increase in the number of lessons offered.

Registration tip: Log into your Recreation Online account before searching for programs or adding them to your cart.

Learn about the changes in place and different class formats to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community below.

Little girl with goggles swimming in lessons.

Welcome to Strathcona County's swimming and water safety programs! Working with our partners at the Canadian Red Cross and Lifesaving Society of Canada, all of our professional aquatic team members hold a complement of certifications to ensure you have the best experience every time you register.

The safety of our swimmers and staff is our top priority. All swimming programs have been created to meet Alberta Health Services guidelines to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

Fall programs offered

Follow the links below to find the full class schedule and register with Recreation Online. Learn more about setting up your Recreation Online account. Need assistance? Call 780-464-2112.

Preschool Basics (parented) - This new level is open to any students who would normally register in Sea Turtle, Sea Otter or Salamander. This class will be taught exclusively in our Kids Pool basin where the depth ranges from .3m to .5m. This level is ideal for any students age 2-5 who have low confidence in the water and are still working on their comfort in aquatic environments. A parent or responsible caregiver (14 years of age or older) must accompany each swimmer in the water.
5+ Basics (parented) - This new level is open to any students who are 5 years of age or older who have never taken swimming lessons before, or who have not completed Red Cross Swim Kids Level 1. This class will focus on building confidence in the water and teaching the basics of floatation, aquatic movement, and how to be safe in, on and around the water. This class will be taught exclusively in our Teach Pool which is 1m deep. A parent or responsible caregiver (14 years of age or older) must accompany each swimmer in the water.
Advanced (parented) - This new level is open to any students who have completed Salamander or Red Cross Swim Kids Level 1 and would normally register in: Sunfish, Crocodile, Whale, Red Cross Swim Kids Level 2 or 3. This class will focus on more advanced swimming skills including back glides, front glides and front swim as well as more advanced water safety skills and knowledge. This class will be taught exclusively in our Teach Pool which is 1m deep. *A parent or responsible caregiver (14 years of age or older) must accompany each swimmer in the water.
Red Cross Swim Kids Levels 4 and up (unparented)
Leadership / Lifesaving (unparented)
Learn to swim adult and teen (unparented)
Private lessons

Program details

Preschool Basics, 5+ Basics and Advanced lessons all require a caregiver (a responsible individual at least 14 years of age or older, from the same household or cohort) to accompany the swimmer in the water for safety and to assist with physical distancing.

Instructors will guide and support caregivers and students as they learn swimming strokes related to the level their current level and provide evaluations. While instructors may be in the water they will consistently maintain 2 meters (6ft) distance from students and caregivers
Red Cross Swim Kids 4 and up do not require a caregiver to accompany the swimmer in the water. Instructors will teach from the pool deck and support students verbally.
If an instructor needs to demonstrate a skill, all swimmers will be physically distanced from each other and the instructor. Students will have a ‘set’ of equipment assigned to them for the duration of their lesson to ensure that no equipment is shared between participants.

Know before you go

Each guest entering the facility must check in with the front desk prior to entering the changeroom. You will be asked a series of screening questions and provided with a tag to indicate which locker you will use, this tag lets our staff know which lockers need to be sanitized following each use.
Stay home if you are sick or experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19.
Please arrive a maximum of 10 minutes before your scheduled class. Only one caregiver is permitted to accompany each swimmer into the building for their lessons.
We recommend arriving with your bathing suit on underneath your clothes to decrease congestion in changing areas.
Masks are required (for individuals 10 years of age and older) in all common areas including the lobby, hallways and changerooms. Program participants (including parents and guardians who will be in the water) do not need a mask while on the pool deck and are not allowed to wear their mask in the water. Masks can be stored in lockers. All spectators on deck must wear face mask.
A full cleansing shower is required for ALL individuals that will be entering the water.
Following your lesson please proceed to the changerooms, maintain proper physical distancing.
Take a quick rinse, put your mask on, change and head home without delay (personal grooming strongly discouraged) so staff can begin sanitizing the area as soon as possible.

Frequently asked questions

1. Can I accompany more than one swimmer in the water if their lessons are at different times?
Permanent link to Can I accompany more than one swimmer in the water if their lessons are at different times?
Can I accompany more than one swimmer in the water if their lessons are at different times?
- A parent or responsible caregiver (14 years of age or older) must accompany each swimmer in the water for all Preschool Basics, 5+ Basics, and Advanced lessons. If lessons run at different times, the same parent or caregiver may accompany more than one swimmer. Swimmers in levels 4 and higher, do not require a parent or caregiver to accompany them in the water.
2. Can I accompany more than one swimmer in the water if they are in the SAME level / lesson?
Permanent link to Can I accompany more than one swimmer in the water if they are in the SAME level / lesson?
Can I accompany more than one swimmer in the water if they are in the SAME level / lesson?

Yes, one parent or caregiver can be in the water supervising two to three participants in the same class, at the same time, if swimmers are close in ability levels.
3. How will I pass a Lifeguarding certification while maintaining 2 meters (6ft) physical distancing for the duration of the course?
Permanent link to How will I pass a Lifeguarding certification while maintaining 2 meters (6ft) physical distancing for the duration of the course?
How will I pass a Lifeguarding certification while maintaining 2 meters (6ft) physical distancing for the duration of the course?
- Our lifeguarding courses will be running as a cohort, this means that students and instructors may come within 2 meters (6ft) of each other without face coverings (when unavoidable). All efforts will be made to maintain physical distancing and face coverings when within 2 meters (6ft) but some rescues and procedures done in the pool cannot be done wearing a mask and require multiple individuals. We ask that all participants limit contact with any other personal cohorts for the duration of this 10-week program to preserve the integrity of the cohort lesson.
4. My child is in Red Cross Swim preschool, how do I know which of the newly formed levels to register them in?
Permanent link to My child is in Red Cross Swim preschool, how do I know which of the newly formed levels to register them in?
My child is in Red Cross Swim preschool, how do I know which of the newly formed levels to register them in?
- Log into your Rec Online account and take a peek at what level they were registered in previously. If they have taken and successfully completed Salamander, they should be registered in Advanced. If they have not yet taken or successfully completed Salamander, register in Preschool Basics.
- If you do not know what level your little swimmer took previously and it is not visible on your Rec Online account please call 780-464-2112.
5. What cleaning protocols are in place for equipment used?
Permanent link to What cleaning protocols are in place for equipment used?
What cleaning protocols are in place for equipment used?
- Students will have a ‘set’ of equipment assigned to them for the duration of their lesson to ensure that no equipment is shared between participants.
- Any porous or equipment that is difficult to sanitize has been removed.
- Any equipment that was used will be sanitized thoroughly before it is used by another participant.
6. What first aid safety measures are in place?
Permanent link to What first aid safety measures are in place?
What first aid safety measures are in place?
- Instructors will be equipped with a rescue tube to use in case of an emergency that will allow them to maintain a 2 meter (6ft) distance while assisting the swimmer in need.
- Should a first aid emergency arise, all instructors and lifeguards are equipped with pocket masks and non-surgical masks for themselves and the individual they are assisting to ensure effective treatment can be provided while maintaining staff and guest safety.
7. What happens if someone is displaying COVID-19 symptoms?
Permanent link to What happens if someone is displaying COVID-19 symptoms?
What happens if someone is displaying COVID-19 symptoms?
- All staff and program participants must stay home if they are sick or experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19. If a participant or staff member displays any symptoms related to COVID 19 without a known cause (an example of a known cause includes something like ingesting pool water) they will be asked to don a face covering and immediately quarantined until they depart the building through an alternate (non-public) exit. All areas this guest or staff member may have contacted will be thoroughly sanitized and disinfected prior to allowing any other staff or guests to enter that space. Any necessary follow up or potential contact tracing would be undertaken by Alberta Health Services.
8. What is being done to reduce the number of people at the pool?
Permanent link to What is being done to reduce the number of people at the pool?
What is being done to reduce the number of people at the pool?
- All programs will run at a 4 student to 1 instructor ratio (approximately 2 to 3 students less than the typical ratio)
- To reduce the number of people on deck at any given time, less classes have been scheduled for each time slot. Only one caregiver is permitted to accompany each swimmer into the building for their lessons.
9. Why aren't lessons available at Kinsmen Leisure Centre for fall 2020?
Permanent link to Why aren't lessons available at Kinsmen Leisure Centre for fall 2020?
Why aren't lessons available at Kinsmen Leisure Centre for fall 2020?

Since Millennium Place pool is currently under construction until January 2021, all swim clubs and synchronized swimming groups will be operating out of Kinsmen Leisure Centre.

Our Aquatic Programmers have been working with the space available and making adjustments to offer as possible while following all Alberta Health Services guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
10. Why aren't there any classes for kids under 2 this session?
Permanent link to Why aren't there any classes for kids under 2 this session?
Why aren't there any classes for kids under 2 this session?

Due to the guidelines in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community, we were required to reduce the number of classes we offer as well as the number of swimmers in each class. We are working on a phased approach to re-opening swimming lessons again to our guests and traditionally Starfish and Duck (kids under 2) are our least utilized programs.

We are offering Red Cross Swim Preschool Basics for students 2- 5 years of age who would have previously enrolled in our Sea Turtle, Sea Otter and Salamander programs.

Lessons for children under 2 (Starfish and Duck) will return to Kinsmen Leisure Centre once the Universal Changeroom and Kids Pool construction is complete.

We will be evaluating this session including feedback we receive to make future programming decisions. If you would like to provide your feedback or have a member of our team follow up with you, please submit a request through County Connect.
11. Why is Bronze Star offered during the day for fall 2020?
Permanent link to Why is Bronze Star offered during the day for fall 2020?
Why is Bronze Star offered during the day for fall 2020?

Strathcona County typically offers leadership programs during the day to accommodate guests who homeschool. Before this session, a daytime leadership class like this would have been labelled "homeschool". Due to the changes in the upcoming school year, the label "homeschool" was left out of the title to be more inclusive.

For more information on future leadership programs, call 780-464-8236.