Building Water Safety Skills for Pembina Trails Students

If elected as School Trustee for the Pembina Trails School Division, one of my top priorities will be to advocate for the creation of Swimming for Life — a grade-targeted learn-to-swim and water safety program for students in Grades 3 through 5.

Growing up in Manitoba means growing up around water. Our province is home to thousands of lakes and rivers, and thus swimming, boating, fishing, going to the beach, and spending time at the lake are an important part of life for many Manitoba families. Enjoying the water safely requires knowledge, confidence, and basic skills that not every child has necessarily had the opportunity to learn.

Other school divisions in Winnipeg have demonstrated that learn-to-swim and water safety programming can have a place within their educational curriculum. I believe Pembina Trails must seriously explore how we can provide our students with that same opportunity.

What would Swimming for Life look like?

The program I envision would combine classroom-based water safety education with practical, in-water instruction.

Students would participate in age-appropriate dryland lessons covering topics such as water and pool safety, the importance and proper use of lifejackets, recognizing potential hazards, safe behaviour around lakes, rivers and pools, and what to do in an aquatic emergency.

The program would also include class excursions to City of Winnipeg swimming pools, where qualified instructors could introduce students to swimming fundamentals, safe entry and exit from the water, basic water survival skills, pool etiquette and increased comfort and confidence in an aquatic environment.

Why Grades 3–5?

These elementary years provide an excellent opportunity to introduce and reinforce water safety skills. Children are old enough to understand important safety concepts while still being young enough that these lessons can influence their habits and confidence around water for years to come.

A school-based learn-to-swim program in many cases would be a student’s first exposure to a swimming environment. Swimming for Life would not be intended to replace traditional swimming lessons. Instead, it would complement them while helping ensure that all students have an opportunity to develop basic knowledge, practical experience, and greater confidence around water.

A Skill That Can Last a Lifetime

Water safety is a very important life skill, and I believe our schools should play an important role in making sure more students have access to and receive that education.

Every year, water-related tragedies remind us how quickly an enjoyable day around the water can become an emergency. Education cannot eliminate every risk, but we can give students knowledge and skills that may help them make safer decisions throughout their lives.

If elected, I will work with fellow Trustees, Administration, Educators, Families, and Aquatic professionals to explore how we can make Swimming for Life a reality for Pembina Trails students.

Because every child deserves the opportunity to learn how to be safe around water.