HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-07-043 - Swim to Survive WRDSB Grant
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Community Services
Report To:
Date of Meeting:
Submitted By:
Community Services Committee
May 7, 2007
Prepared By:
Denise Keelan
Interim Director, Aquatics and Athletics (ext. 2706)
Janet Zomer-Beer
Aquatics Supervisor Forest Heights Pool (ext. 2989)
All
Ward(s) Involved:
Date of Report:
Report No.:
Subject:
April 25, 2007
CSD-07-043
SWIM TO SURVIVE WRDSB GRANT
RECOMMENDATION:
For information only.
BACKGROUND:
The purpose of this report is to provide an update to council regarding an excellent partnership
that has been developed between the Waterloo Regional District School Board and the City of
Kitchener Aquatics Division. Due to the alarming number of drowning's in Ontario since 2004 a
grant program has been developed to support municipalities wishing to fund a swimming lesson
program termed "SWIM TO SURVIVE". The 2006 program was a tremendous success and will
continue for the spring and fall of 2007.
REPORT:
The Lifesaving Society "Swim to Survive" school grant is made possible through funds from the
Ontario Ministry of Education, Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion, Barbara Underhill's
Stephanie Gaetz KEEPSAFE Foundation, and funding from the Lifesaving Society itself. The
Lifesaving Society, Canada's Iifeguarding expert, is a charitable organization working to prevent
drowning and water-related injury.
In September 2006, the Waterloo Region District School Board, City of Waterloo and the City of
Kitchener, were the recipients of a Lifesaving Society's "Swim to Survive" grant. The "Swim to
Survive" grant funds a minimum of 3 in-water "Swim to Survive" lessons to grade 3 children
within an elementary school program during school hours at local pools.
Seven Waterloo Region District schools were selected to participate in this pilot partnership at
Forest Heights Pool and Cameron Heights Pool. More than 300 grade 3 children participated in
this excellent program.
The Lifesaving Society's "Swim to Survive" program defines the minimum skills needed to
survive an unexpected fall into deep water as:
Report No: CSD-07-043
2
Roll into deep water-
tread water for one minute
swim 50 meters
The program has been designed to be easy to learn but effective in preventing drowning in
Canada-especially among young children. The program is designed as 3 lessons, 3 hours in
length, for grade 3 students.
Presently, drowning is a leading cause of preventable death in Canada. Over 400 Canadians
die every year in water-related incidents. Basic swimming ability is a fundamental requirement
in any meaningful attempt to eliminate drowning in Canada. This drowning Prevention Program
aims to reduce drownings by 500/0 within 1 0 years.
The aim of the Aquatics Division regarding this initiative is:
· Partner directly with the Waterloo Region District School board to provide this service to
the grade 3 children in our community who may not otherwise have an opportunity to
learn to swim.
· Sadly, 60 percent of Canadian children never take swimming lessons. In our community
we plan to increase the opportunity though this program and other initiatives.
· Existing daytime pool use at Cameron and Forest Heights Pool was reviewed. Pool
time designated for the Swim to Survive time was not well used by the community. The
school board selected participating schools based on the pools that they would access
within their school district.
· To bring new families into our pools through this partnership with the Waterloo Region
District School Board. 300 children with limited previous swim experiences will be
welcomed into our aquatic facilities.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
In 2006 the City of Kitchener received over $4,000 grant dollars to support the staff required to
teach the fall "swim to Survive" program. The program has been developed to offer in the spring
and fall of 2007.
CONCLUSION:
The Swim to Survive program introduces children to the basic skills needed for water survival.
We anticipate that once these children have been engaged in this program they will return to the
city pools to continue this learning. The Aquatic Division and the WRDSB are pleased at the
response from the participants and the parents that have benefited from these life saving skills.
Denise Keelan
Interim Director, Aquatics and Athletics
AP