Swimming is an important life skill for all ages to learn, but sometimes finding a spot in a City-run program can be as difficult as beating Summer McIntosh in the 200m Butterfly.
That’s why we’ve rounded up several options for those wanting to share the love of swimming with their children around Metro Vancouver this year, ranging from swim academies to private lessons at home. And adults are welcome to get in on the pool fun too.
If your little ones are ready to dive in, check these out. And don’t forget to bring a towel!
City of Vancouver
City of Vancouver’s swimming lessons are the top choice for many families around the city. The city has offered the Lifesaving Society Swim for Life program at its facilities since January 2023, with lessons divided into four age groups offered at various start times throughout the year.
They include parent and tot swim lessons for 4 to 36 months, preschool swim lessons for ages 3 to 5 years, children’s swim lessons for swimmers 5 to 16 years, and adult swim lessons for 16 years and up.
Where: Various locations
Both YMCA BC and YWCA Metro Vancouver offer swimming lessons through their facilities, which can be a great way for members and their children to learn how to swim.
YMCA BC offers continuous swim lessons available in four locations, with instructors using several methods to help children build confidence in the water while developing skills. The YWCA Health + Fitness Centre in downtown Vancouver offers private and group classes throughout the week.
Where: Various locations
The UBC Aquatic Centre is your home for everything fun in the water, including drop-in swimming, diving lessons, aquacize fitness, and, of course, swimming lessons. UBC Rec offers children and youth programs, adult programs, and private lessons led by Lifesaving Society swim instructors.
Where: UBC Aquatic Centre – 6080 Student Union Boulevard, Vancouver
The JCC’s inclusive pool facility offers something several options for swimming lessons. Choose from private or semi-private lessons led by Lifesaving Society Trained Swim instructors. There are also parent-and-tot classes, swim clubs, and early childhood education classes that will help your children fall in love with swimming.
Where: Jewish Community Centre – 950 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver
Pedalheads
Pedalheads has provided the community with high-quality and kids-first instruction for bike, trail, soccer and swim programs since 1986. And to answer the constant demand across Metro Vancouver for swimming lessons, Pedalheads is opening a brand new learning pool in Spring 2025.
Pedalheads’ new Fremont Village location is designed to offer families a modern, convenient, and welcoming space to help children ages 4 months to 12 years gain confidence in the water and develop essential swim skills. All skill levels are welcome, whether they’re just starting or ready to progress to more advanced levels.
Where: Various locations, including Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam, Burnaby, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, West Vancouver, and North Vancouver
Aquaventures offers a variety of swim classes in a warm water environment, including infant and toddlers, preschool, school-age, and adults. Their programs aim to teach children swimming skills at the earliest possible age for them to learn and use them, train them in water safety behaviours, and provide drowning prevention strategies to adult family members and caregivers to help them keep young swimmers safe.
Where: 5550 Fraser Street, Vancouver
Pacific Swim Academy offers technical swim instruction, lifesaving, and instructor training for all skill levels. The Vancouver-based school offers classes and programs at seven locations and will be adding lessons for parents and tots in the near future, according to its website.
Where: Various locations
British Swim School
British Swim School uses a survival-first approach and gentle teaching techniques to share the love of swimming with students of all ages. Their classes begin with water acclimation and survival before developing water stroke techniques.
Their goal-oriented programs and confidence-building curriculum promise to get your little one diving into swimming in no time.
Where: Various locations
Propel is an online platform where you can book swimming lessons by choosing an instructor, a location, and a price. Their instructors aim to provide all ages — from toddlers to adults — with the skills needed to feel safe and comfortable in the water. Propel lessons can be booked across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
Where: Various locations
Clo, the founder of Swim Fins Swim School, offers a unique learn-to-swim program that she says will help students learn in a quarter of the time compared to other programs. Swim Fins has small class sizes where all students participate simultaneously to maximize learning. There are also customized lesson plans to help the students learn quickly.
Where: Various locations
Coastal Waves Swim School is a mobile swim school where you and your children can learn in your own home. Students receive individual-based teaching on swim essentials like floating, kicking, treading water, and more to help increase their confidence in the pool.
Where: Your pool location
Swim Lessons Vancouver is led by Diogo, a Lifesaving Society Swim for Life Instructor and a practicing kinesiologist with 20 years of swim instructing experience. He and his instructors offer one-on-one swim lessons for all ages and abilities by coming to you and your residential pool.
Where: Your pool location