The City of Winnipeg is piloting a project that could make Swimming Lessons part of the School Curriculum. The new water safety education program is called “Swimming Counts”.
“Swimming and water safety are basic life skills that are so important for kids to learn from a young age,” said Councillor Mike Pagtakhan, Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Protection, Community Services and Parks. “The pilot project partnership between the City of Winnipeg and the Winnipeg School Division is an important step towards reaching all children in the division equally to provide vital swimming education.”
The pilot program will take place in the Winnipeg School Division and be provided to 2,300 Grade 3 and 4 students from 59 schools from January to June 2018. It will include three 40-minute pool times plus one hour of water safety education in the classroom.
Schools have long been identified as the preferred entry points for swim skills and water safety training.
