Learn-to-Swim Program
As you may have recently seen through communication from the Canadian Red Cross, they have decided to wind down their involvement in all swim and lifeguard programming across Canada in order to direct more attention to surging humanitarian demands in other areas. As part of that decision, Red Cross has worked closely with Lifesaving Society Canada to ensure a smooth transition for you to begin offering Lifesaving Society programs to your customers.
The Lifesaving Society welcomes the opportunity to work with all volunteers to ensure the continuity of swim and lifeguard training to Canadians. We appreciate the confidence Red Cross has expressed in us and we will continue to provide our partners with the benefit of over 100 years of experience in delivering nationally recognized swim and lifesaving programs in Canada.
Both organizations have worked together for many years toward the common humanitarian goal of preventing drowning and water-related injury. That collaboration will continue in making the transition of all current Red Cross water safety delivery partners, instructors and lifeguards as easy as possible. We also look to use this new opportunity to promote the valuable life skills and excellent leadership values offered through becoming a lifeguard and swim instructor, now through a single organization.
The Lifesaving Society and Canadian Red Cross have created special pathways by which Red Cross certification holders transition to corresponding Lifesaving Society certifications. Instructors who missed out on the online Swim Transition Instructor Clinic are asked to contact their local Branch for certification options.
Swim for Life
The Swim for Life program is the Lifesaving Society’s learn-to-swim program that develops solid swimming strokes and skills. We incorporate valuable Water Smart® education that will last a lifetime. There are 5 modules in the Lifesaving Society Swim for Life® program:
- Parent & Tot for parents and children up to 3 years of age
- Preschool for children 3-5 years
- Swimmer for children 5 years and older
- Adult Swimmer for people over 16 years
- Fitness Swimmer for people of any age who want to improve their overall physical fitness
We've designed the modules so they flow together seamlessly. You can program them independently or so they flow logically into each other and on into the basic lifesaving awards: Rookie, Ranger and Star Patrol.