Meadow Park Sports Centre offers swimming lessons for all ages and abilities, as well as nationally recognized lifeguard training and swim instructor certifications.
Quick links
New for 2025: swim lesson prerequisite and level checks
To ensure proper placement in swim programs, our registration system automatically now verifies all required prerequisites. This helps every child start their swimming journey with confidence.
How to Check Prerequisites: Parents can review their child’s prerequisites through the “Activity Outcomes” tab in their family profile at MyRecreation.
Important: Age prerequisites still apply to all swimming lessons.
Free swim assessments available
If you want to enroll in a swim program and aren’t sure what you or your child’s swimming level is, visit Meadow Park Sports Centre pool to request a complimentary swim assessment.
Assessment process:
- Visit MPSC during operating hours and speak to the front desk
- A lifeguard will conduct the assessment (no in-water testing required)
- Bring a recent report card from another facility if available.
- Complete assessments one week before registration day for processing.
- Regular drop-in fees apply if you choose to swim after the assessment.
Swimming lessons
Parent & tot lessons (ages 4-36 months)
The Lifesaving Society Parent & Tot program helps introduce children to the water through play-based activities. For more details on each program and registration, click here.
- Parent & Tot 1 – Jellyfish (4-12 months)
- Babies must be able to hold their head up
- Focus on buoyancy, movement, and water safety
- Parent & Tot 2 – Goldfish (12-24 months)
- Learn floating, water movement, and basic safety
- Fun games, songs, and interactive play
- Parent & Tot 3 – Seahorse (24-36 months)
- Introduction to gliding, floating, and kicking with support
- Parent participation is encouraged
Preschool lessons (Ages 3-5)
Children new to lessons should register for Preschool 1 – Octopus.
Detailed descriptions and registration is available here.
- Preschool 1 – Octopus: Water entry, floating, and blowing bubbles
- Preschool 2 – Crab: Jumping in, lifejacket use, and gliding
- Preschool 3 – Orca: Deep water entries, object retrieval, and kicking
- Preschool 4 – Sea Lion: Sideways entries, 5m swimming, and water skills
- Preschool 5 – Narwhal: Treading water, front/back crawl, and whip kick
Age group swim lessons (Ages 5-12)
Designed for all skill levels, these lessons build confidence and technique.
- Swimmer 1: Water comfort, floating, and kicking
- Swimmer 2: Deep water jumps, whip kick, and 10m swimming
- Swimmer 3: Handstands, somersaults, and 15m swimming
- Swimmer 4: Underwater swimming, stroke endurance, and 25m sprints
- Swimmer 5: Advanced diving, stroke refinement, and interval training
- Swimmer 6: Lifesaving kicks, 300m endurance workouts
- Swimmer 7 – Rookie: 50m strokes, rescue skills, and first aid basics
- Swimmer 8 – Ranger: Timed object rescues, shock treatment, and lifesaving drills
- Swimmer 9 – Star: Advanced lifeguarding, 600m workouts, and victim rescues
For more information on each level, as well as to register for classes, click here.
Adult swim lessons
- Adult 1: Water confidence, floating, and basic stroke work
- Adult 2: 25m interval training, dive entries, and endurance
- Adult 3: Stroke mastery, 300m endurance swims, and lifesaving skills
Registration and details on adult swimming programs can be found here.
Aquatic leadership programs
Lifeguard & instructor training
Becoming a certified lifeguard or swim instructor in British Columbia requires the following courses:
- Bronze Medallion (Age 13+ or Bronze Star required)
- Lifesaving principles, rescue techniques, and 400m timed swims
- Includes CPR-A certification
- Bronze Cross (Prerequisite: Bronze Medallion)
- Spinal injury management, fitness training, and CPR-C certification
- Earns 2 high school credits (Grade 11)
- Swim for Life – Swim Instructor Certification
- Required to teach preschool and age group lessons
- Must hold Bronze Cross
- Standard First Aid & CPR (Age 12+)
- Covers emergency response, injury treatment, and AED use
- Recognized for National Lifeguard certification.
- National Lifeguard Certification (Age 15+)
- Prerequisites: SFA/CPR, Bronze Cross
- Earns 2 high school credits (Grade 12)
- Lifesaving Instructor (Age 15+)
- Prerequisite: Bronze Cross
- Earns 1 high school credit (Grade 11)
- Trains candidates to teach lifeguarding and first aid skills
Click here for more details and registration.
Recertifications & clinics
Stay certified with refresher courses and clinics. Check back for details.