Where to Go for Swimming Lessons in Toronto
Swimming and water safety aren’t skills most of us use every day, but they are absolutely vital to know. Every year, roughly 460 Canadians drown. While the bulk of these deaths occur in adults, enrolling your child in swimming classes now equips them with valuable skills that can help to keep them safe in and around water for the rest of their lives. And as a nice bonus, formal swimming lessons also put your kid on the track towards becoming a lifeguard, which is a great gig for high school and post-secondary students.
Below we round up schools and organizations that all have an established themselves as spaces that that teach your kids to be safe and comfortable in and around pools, lakes, and then the ocean. While the bulk of these schools operate in Toronto, a few can be found just outside the city. Given that getting into swimming lessons in Toronto can be tough, we figured that families would appreciate having a nice, wide range of options.
Where to Go for Swimming Lessons in Toronto
Aqua Kids
Multiple Locations
Ask for swim school suggestions in any Toronto parents Facebook group and you’re sure to get multiple referrals for Aqua Kids, which has a reputation for being patient and effective. Classes can take place in a few different locations, including Newtonbrook Secondary School (155 Hilda Ave.) and Yonge Village Recreation Centre (20 Tangreen Court). Aqua Kids offers lessons for all ages (even adults) and semi-private, private, and even at-home lessons are available. For fall 2023, expect to pay $565 for 10 lessons for kids.
City of Toronto
Multiple Locations
The City of Toronto runs over 60 indoor pools, the bulk of which offer swim lessons. But while a wide range of times and skill levels are available, snagging a spot can be tough, especially if you’re after one of those coveted weekend morning slots. Registration opens up multiple times a year as part of the larger City of Toronto Parks and Recreation programming registration. Learn more about this process here and then cross your fingers on registration day (but seriously, have all the program codes, plus your family and client numbers easily accessible). In fall of 2023, lessons through the City start at only $49, which is a big reason why they’re so popular. If you can’t get your kid into one of the City run spots, take comfort in knowing you’re not alone, and that City pools are often on the chilly side.
Felix’s Swim School
Multiple Locations
Thanks to class ratios that are often as low as three or four students to one instructor, Felix Swim School can tweak its classes to offer “…a focused, individualized approach to instruction as well as an element of teamwork and fun!” Parents and tots classes are open to babies as young as four months, and courses run all the way up to lifeguard certification. Felix operates out of pools in the Junction, downtown, Riverside, Markham, Woodbridge, and Thornhill. For its fall 2023 learn-to-swim classes, Felix is charging $754 for 13 45-minute classes while parent and tot classes, which have a higher a student-to-instructor ratio, are $520 for 13 30-minute classes.
Frank’s Swim School
Multiple Locations
Since 1968, Frank’s has been “serious about swimming.” It offers everything from tot and parent classes up to lifeguard training. Class sizes are tiny, with a ratio of three to one being common, though semi-private and private lessons are available. Frank’s currently runs lessons out of four locations: Bishop Strachan (298 Lonsdale Rd.), Glenview (401 Rosewell Ave.), Havergal College (1451 Avenue Rd.), and its own specialty teaching pool at 1 Whitehorse Road. This last location has been specially designed for kids ages seven and under, including the school’s tots and parents’ classes. Pricing depends on the number of classes but for winter 2024, eight classes cost $352.
Jack of Sports
Multiple Locations
This is one of the most popular places for swimming lessons in Toronto on this list that is not operated by the City because it offers so many classes in so many locations. Operating out of 13 pools (mostly found in schools), Jack of Sports offers classes for parents and tots as well as 10 levels of learn-to-swim courses. Semi-private and private lessons are also available. Jack of Sports is surprisingly affordable considering that its non-tot class ratios are quite low, five or six students to one instructor depending on the level, and those classes clock in at 55 minutes in length. For fall 2023, 13 kid classes runs $371, while 13 parent and tot classes costs $279.50.
Seal Swimming
Multiple Locations
Calling itself a, “modern, and rewarding environment” in which to learn swimming (and water safety) in, Seal Swimming uses its own curriculum to create strong, confident swimmers. Its parents and tots class welcomes babies under four months and its other programming features lessons for all ages, including adults. Lifeguarding and other aquatic leadership classes as available, as are private and at-home lessons. Lessons take place at several pools across Toronto and pricing varies depending on level/length of class, but to give you a sense of cost, the parents and tots class starts at around $330 for the fall 2023 session.
Shendy’s
25 Scarsdale Rd. & 2 Champagne Dr., Toronto
As a supporter of the “No Push Movement,” (as in no pushing people into the water) this school takes a gentle approach to teaching kids everything they need to know about swimming and water safety. As well, Shendy’s team is, “…well versed in adaptive teaching to cater to those students with mental and physical exceptionalities.” Classes take place in one of Shendy’s two designed-for-families saltwater pools (they’re also heated!) and cover every level from tots and parents to the bronze awards. Prices vary depending on level and length of class but to give you a sense of cost, seven weeks of 30-minute group class during the fall 2023 term runs $287.
Swim Time
Multiple Locations
With locations in Thornhill, Woodbridge, Pickering and Whitby, this school isn’t located in Toronto, but it gets such rave reviews from parents that we had to include it. While its highly experienced instructors and low-class sizes are likely a big reason for its popularity, we suspect that its decision to only run classes in warm, saltwater pools also helps. Classes are open to kids as young as four months and continue up to the National Lifeguard Certification. For fall 2023, 13 classes for kids costs $572 while the “tadpoles” (toddler and parent classes) runs $429. At-home lessons are also available for a special fee.
Variety Village
3701 Danforth Ave., Toronto
Specially designed for children for all abilities, Variety Village is home to two large, fully accessible pools, and a giant hot tub. Class levels range from preschoolers to the National Lifeguard Certification. A variety of non-standard classes are available, including private lessons and a swimming fitness course for kids that lets them set their own goals and focus on improving their skills and speed in the water. In 2023/24, standard swim lessons run $87 however, keep in mind that Variety Village requires a membership to access its programming. In the fall of 2023, an annual membership for a single child (two-13) is $364.
Water Babies
Multiple Locations
Looking to introduce your baby to the water and want some friendly (and fun!) guidance? Then check out Water Babies. Using toys, tools, and techniques to turn the pool into a “sensory playground,” Water Babies classes are designed to teach your little one to love the water, while creating amazing bonding time. Classes are open to kids as young as a few months old, up to age five, and take place at over a dozen Toronto and area locations.
YMCA
Multiple Locations
It’s fun to swim at the YMCA – even if you’re not a member! While members do get a noticeably cheaper price, the Y’s swimming lessons in Toronto are technically open to all. Different levels and class sizes are available, including private lessons. Members can expect to pay prices around $56.00 for 14 weeks of the large class while non-members will pay around
$154.00. Toronto’s multiple YMCA recreation centres are popular spots for lessons so you want to enroll your kid here, get on it ASAP. And if you want to keep yourself busy while your child is in the pool, consider getting a membership so that you can work out. Monthly and annual memberships are available and while there is some price variation depending on the location, multiple spots start at $99 for a monthly family membership.
