Winnipeg Schools Launch Water-Safety Program for Young Students

Elementary students in Winnipeg will participate in a new water-safety pilot program called “Swimming Counts,” aimed at teaching Grade 3 and 4 students essential swimming skills. The initiative, launched by the Louis Riel School Division, has received a funding allocation of $100,000 to create a comprehensive learn-to-swim curriculum.

The program addresses a pressing need for swimming education, particularly in light of the city’s ongoing lifeguard shortage. Trustee Ryan Palmquist, who represents River Park South, has been a vocal advocate for the program, highlighting the challenges parents face in accessing formal swimming lessons. He noted, “I teach my kids swimming and take them to the pool as often as I can on my own, but as a parent, I have struggled, for years, to get them into actual, formal swimming lessons.”

Palmquist’s concerns stemmed from the difficulties many families encounter when trying to enroll their children in swimming courses, particularly due to the limited availability of instructors during evenings and weekends. This realization motivated him to propose the water-safety program, which was endorsed by fellow board members during the latest budgeting process in March.

The pilot program will initially be offered at six schools: Lavallee, Provencher, Victor Mager, St. George, Glenwood, and Victor H. L. Wyatt. This selection was made based on socio-economic data, ensuring that children from families who might not afford private lessons have the opportunity to learn to swim through the school division.

According to Jamie Rudnicki, Chief Financial Officer of the Louis Riel School Division, about 475 students are expected to participate in the program, with expenses projected to remain under budget. Each participant will undergo one dry-land lesson followed by three in-pool sessions. Their comfort and skill levels will be assessed as they engage in swimming for the first time in public pools.

The program will utilize facilities such as the Pan Am Pool, Elmwood Kildonan Pool, and Cindy Klassen Recreation Complex, which are located outside the division’s borders. Plans are in place to shift lessons to Bonivital Pool at Niakwa Park once renovations are completed. City-employed lifeguards will lead the lessons, which are set to commence on Wednesday.

The initiative mirrors a similar program implemented by the Seven Oaks School Division, which has established a ten-week swimming curriculum to equip all Grade 4 students in north Winnipeg with fundamental water-safety skills. With certified swim instructors on staff, this program has proven effective in increasing swimming proficiency among young learners.

Palmquist expressed his desire for the program to expand, stating, “I would like to see this, at the very least, at every school that delivers Grade 3 and 4.” He acknowledged the balancing act schools must perform, managing academic priorities alongside lessons focused on physical and mental well-being.

As the Louis Riel School Division embarks on this significant initiative, community members are optimistic about its potential to enhance water safety awareness among young students. The pilot program represents a proactive step towards addressing swimming education gaps in the region, ensuring that children are better prepared for water-related activities in the future.