All morning classes are offered at either 9:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., or 11:30 a.m.
Swimming Lessons
The City of Thorold offers swimming lessons based on the Canadian Lifesaving Program for all ages and abilities. There are several lesson formats including two week sessions and evenings for ten weeks. Find a lesson that best suits your family's needs!
Group Swim Lesson Registration opens on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 for residents and on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 for non-residents.
Please be advised that registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Payment is due upon registration. Once lessons are full, we will close registration on that particular session.
Two Week Sessions
Morning Lessons (Two-Week Sessions):
The City of Thorold offers four (4) two-week sessions throughout the summer. Participants will attend 10 classes over two weeks at the same time each day.
Evening Lessons (Weekly Sessions):
The City of Thorold offers weekly swim lessons in the evenings for participants to join throughout the summer. Each class will take place at the same time each week for ten (10) weeks.
The full season for 2026 starts on June 29th with the last class on September 3rd, for a total of ten (10) weeks.
Download and print all of the swim schedules at home.
Private and Semi-Private Lesson Registration Opens on Monday, May 25, 2026 for residents and on Monday, June 1, 2026 for non-residents.
Private Swimming Lessons
Private swim lessons offer individualized attention and ample practice time for participants aged 3 and up.
These lessons are available for Lifesaving Society levels: Preschool, Swimmer 1–6, Teen, and Adult.
Semi-Private Swimming Lessons
Semi-private lessons pair one instructor with two participants, making them ideal for siblings or friends at similar skill levels. You may upgrade a private lesson to semi-private by selecting your preferred private lesson time and emailing us at aquatic.supervisor@thorold.ca to request the change. For the best experience, we recommend that both participants be within one swim level of each other.
Instructor Requests
You may request a specific instructor or the gender of your instructor for private lessons. While we strive to accommodate all requests, we cannot guarantee availability. Please reach out by email or phone for instructor preferences.
Private lessons will be offered in 2 different ways:
- Mornings – Monday to Friday for 1 week each (5 classes per week)
- Evenings – 1x per week for the whole summer (10 classes for the summer)
All evening classes are offered once (1x) per week at either 5:00 p.m. or 5:30 p.m.
Private Lesson - $22.00 per class
Semi-Private Lesson - $13.50 per person, per class
Pricing will be pre-determined by the number of classes (e.g. 5 classes x $22.00 per class = $110.00).
Please note: Pricing will not be pro-rated if you are unable to attend a class.
Register Over the Phone:
Call us anytime Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 905-227-6613 ext. 403.
Staff will return your call within 1-2 business days. Payment is due upon registration. Credit card (Visa and MasterCard) payments are accepted over the phone.
Please note: All credit card payments are subjected to a non-refundable processing fee.
In-Person Registration Dates for Group Swim Lessons:
Before registering, we recommend:
- Reviewing the online schedules in advance
- Coming prepared with your program name, number, date, and time
- Creating an online account through our ActiveNet registration site
Location: Thorold Community Pool (111 Richmond St)
Residents
Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. & 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Non-Residents
Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. & 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
In-Person Registration Dates for Private and Semi-Private Swim Lessons:
Before registering, we recommend:
- Reviewing the online schedules in advance
- Coming prepared with your program name, number, date, and time
- Creating an online account through our ActiveNet registration site
Location: Thorold Community Pool (111 Richmond St)
Residents
Date: Monday, May 25, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. & 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Non-Residents
Date: Monday, June 1, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. & 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Register Online
Registration can be made online at the link in our side bar menu. Credit card payments are accepted online, and will be subject to a small non-refundable transaction fee.
Refunds and Class Transfers
- All withdrawals / cancellations are subject to an administration fee of $13.00 per participant.
- No refunds / transfers will be issued within three (3) business days before the first scheduled class.
- All requests for withdrawals / transfers for a valid reason must be submitted via email and approved by staff.
- If the program has started, registration fees will be refunded on a pro-rated basis.
- No refunds / transfers will be issued after the third class.
- For Aquatic Leadership programs, refunds will only be issued for withdrawals requested fourteen (14) business days prior to the start of the program.
Program Descriptions
View our swimming levels below to discover which level is right for you or your child, youth, or teen.
Classes are geared to participants registered in the appropriate level only. For safety reasons, participants registered in the incorrect level, either above or below their ability, will be un-registered and charged an administration fee.
If your child has not taken lessons for more than a year, or you are unsure which level to register them in, please contact our Aquatic Supervisor at aquatic.supervisor@thorold.ca or call us at 905-227-6613 x403 to discuss.
We encourage the parent to participate until their child lets them know they can do it themselves (thank you very much). These preschoolers will have fun learning to get in and out of the water. We'll help them jump into chest deep water. They'll float and glide on their front and back and learn to get their faces wet and blow bubbles underwater.
These preschoolers learn to jump into chest-deep water by themselves, and get in and get out wearing a lifejacket. They'll submerge and exhale underwater. Wearing a lifejacket they'll glide on their front and back.
These youngsters will try both jumping and a sideways entry into deep water while wearing a lifejacket. They'll recover objects from the bottom in waist-deep water. They'll work on kicking and gliding through the water on their front and back.
Advanced preschoolers will learn to do solo jumps into deeper water and get out by themselves. They'll do sideways entries and open their eyes underwater. They'll master a short swim on their front wearing a lifejacket and gliding and kicking on their side.
These youngsters get more adventuresome with a forward roll entry wearing a lifejacket and treading water for 10 sec. They'll work on front and back crawl swims for 5 m, interval training and get a giggle out of whip kick.
These beginners will become comfortable jumping into water with and without a lifejacket. They'll learn to open their eyes, exhale and hold their breath underwater. They'll work on floats, glides and kicking through the water on their front and back.
These advanced beginners will jump into deeper water, and learn to be comfortable falling sideways into the water wearing a lifejacket. They'll be able to support themselves at the surface without an aid, learn whip kick, swim 10 m on their front and back, and be introduced to flutter kick interval training (4 x 5 m).
These junior swimmers will dive and do in-water front somersaults and handstands. They'll work on 15 m of front crawl, back crawl and 10 m of whip kick. Flutter kick interval training increases to 4 x 15 m.
These intermediate swimmers will swim 5 m underwater and lengths of front, back crawl, whip kick, and breaststroke arms with breathing. Their new bag of tricks includes the completion of the Canadian Swim to Survive® Standard. They'll cap it all off with front crawl sprints over 25 m and 4 x 25 m front or back crawl interval training.
These swimmers will master shallow dives, cannonball entries, eggbeater kicks, and in-water backward somersaults. They'll refine their front and back crawl over 50 m swims of each, and breaststroke over 25 m. Then they'll pick up the pace in 25 m sprints and two interval training bouts: 4 x 50 m front or back crawl; and 4 x 15 m breaststroke.
These advanced swimmers will rise to the challenge of sophisticated aquatic skills including stride entries, compact jumps and lifesaving kicks like eggbeater and scissor kick. They'll develop strength and power in head-up breaststroke sprints over 25 m. They'll easily swim lengths of front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke, and they'll complain about the 300 m workout.
Private Lessons
Private Lesson: $22.00/class per person
Semi-Private Lesson: $13.50/class per person
Private and semi-private lessons can be accommodated upon request. These lessons are available for individuals who may require additional one on one support. Private lessons are available to all levels and abilities.
All private lessons are 30 minutes.
Swimmers continue stroke development with 50 m swims of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke. Lifesaving Sport skills include a 25 m obstacle swim and 15 m object carry. First aid focuses on assessment of conscious victims, contacting EMS and treatment for bleeding. Fitness improves in 350 m workouts and 100 m timed swims.
Swimmers develop better strokes over 75 m swims of each stroke. They tackle Lifesaving Sport skills in a lifesaving medley, timed object support and rescue with a buoyant aid. First aid focuses on assessment of unconscious victims, treatment of victims in shock and obstructed airway procedures. Skill drills develop a strong lifesaving foundation.
Swimmers are challenged with 600 m workouts, 300 m timed swims and a 25 m object carry. Strokes are refined over 100 m swims. First aid focuses on treatment of bone or joint injuries and respiratory emergencies including asthma and allergic reactions. Lifesaving skills include defence methods, victim removals and rolling over and supporting a victim face up in shallow water.
Thirty minute lessons are available to all abilities. Register for multiple weeks for long term progress.
Thirty minute semi-private lessons can be schedule for two individuals of similar ability. Participants are responsible for finding a second person prior to registration.
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