Swimming Lessons

Parents/guardians who are unsure what swim lesson level to register their child in can get a free assessment from a City of Markham lifeguard during any Recreational Swim.

Sign up at the front desk and our staff will connect you with a lifeguard for the assessment.

Regular admission standards apply. Children 9 years and under must remain within arm's reach of a guardian who is 15 years of age or older in the pool.

Join our swim lessons and aquatic programs to build confidence in the water!

Our swimming lessons are based on the Lifesaving Society’s Swim for Life program which focuses on building strong swimming skills through hands-on practice. It is designed to be flexible, affordable, and seamlessly transition into lifesaving training to become a lifeguard and swim instructor.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to improve your skills, our certified instructors are here to help. We offer lessons for kids, teens, and adults, as well as aquatic programs to build life-saving skills. In a safe and supportive environment, you’ll learn important techniques while having fun.

View Swim Lessons

The Swim Academy program is a new program focused entirely on mastering swimming techniques. Your child will become a stronger, safer swimmer as the lessons concentrate on strokes, drills and endurance training. Participants can register for up to 2 lessons per week, allowing them to develop their skills quickly. This course is perfect for children who have completed lessons and are looking to enhance their swimming ability and for those planning on continuing in swimming through aquatic leadership courses. 

Participants must have completed Swimmer 4 or higher to register. 

This specialty aquatic program opens for registration on June 2 at 6:30 AM.

Centennial Community Centre

Saturdays, starting July 4 to August 29 from 9 AM to 10 AM.

Sundays, starting July 5 to August 30 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM.

Monday to Friday, starting July 20 to July 24 from 3 PM to 4 PM.

Monday to Friday, starting August 10 to August 14 from 3 PM to 4 PM.

Monday to Friday, starting August 24 to August 28 from 3 PM to 4 PM.

View Programs

Learn to swim the Swimmer Plus way! The City of Markham is proud to introduce our new program: Swimmer Plus.

This program is designed so swimmers have:

• more time in the water,
• more one-on-one time with the instructor, and
• more time to focus on stroke and skill development.

This high quality program focuses on strokes and skills including entries and exits, surface support, underwater skills, Swim to Survive skills, movement/swimming skills, fitness, and water smart education. Participants will develop from basic swimming skills and strokes to mastering their movement in the water.

The program is offered at all levels and sets swimmers up perfectly for Swim Patrol and aquatic leadership courses.

View programs

The City of Markham swimming lessons are based on the Lifesaving Society’s Swim for Life program.

Levels offered:

• Parent & Tot levels 1, 2, & 3: A program designed for parent and child between the ages of 3 months to 3 years. Through this structured in-water class, parents and children will learn safety skills, basic swimming skills and develop a positive attitude around water.
• Preschool levels 1 to 5: A program for children between 3 to 5 years of age. This progressive program helps preschoolers builds confidence and foundational swimming skills.
• Swimmer levels 1 to 6: A program for children between 5 to 12 years of age. A progressive program suitable for an absolute beginner or for those wanting to develop their skills. By the end of Swimmer 6, participants will be able to confidently swim long distances using front stroke, back stroke or breaststroke, tread in deep water and know how to enter the water using various head or foot-first entries.
• Swimmer 7, Rookie Patrol: Swimmers continue stroke development with 50 metres swims of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke. Lifesaving sport skills include a 25-metre obstacle swim and a 15-metre object carry.
• Swimmer 8, Ranger Patrol: Swimmers develop better strokes over 75-metre swims. They tackle lifesaving sport skills in a lifesaving medley, timed object support and rescue with a buoyant aid.
• Swimmer 9, Star Patrol: Swimmers are challenged with 600-metre workouts, 300-metre timed swims and a 25-metre object carry. Strokes are refined over 100-metre swims.
• Teen levels 1 to 3: A program for preteen and teens between 9 to 16 years of age. Participants learn swimming skills similar to those found in Swimmer levels 1 to 6, but the class structure is catered to an older age group and more mature learning environment.
• Adult levels 1 to 3: A program for adults 16 years and older. A progressive programs suitable for adults who wish to learn to swim or improve their water fitness.

Swimming levels are offered in the following formats:

• Swimmer Plus Program
• Group classes
• Private or semi-private classes

Read Program, Transfer, Withdrawal & Refund Policy

Fall Swim Lesson Dates

Aaniin Pool

Saturdays, starting Oct. 3. to Dec. 19; Parent day: TBD

Sundays, starting Oct. 4 to Dec. 20; Parent day: TBD

Mondays, starting  Sep. 28 to Dec. 14; Parent day: TBD

Tuesdays, starting Sep. 29 to Dec. 15; Parent day: TBD

Wednesdays, starting Sep. 30 to Dec. 16; Parent day: TBD

Thursdays, starting Oct.1 to Dec. 17;  Parent day: TBD

Fridays, starting Oct. 2 to Dec 18; Parent Day: TBD

Angus Glen Pool

Saturdays, starting Oct. 3. to Dec. 19; Parent day: TBD

Sundays, starting Oct. 4 to Dec. 20; Parent day: TBD

Mondays, starting  Sep. 28 to Dec. 14; Parent day: TBD

Tuesdays, starting Sep. 29 to Dec.15; Parent day: TBD

Wednesdays, starting Sep. 30 to Dec. 16; Parent day: TBD

Thursdays, starting Oct.1 to Dec. 17; Parent day: TBD

Fridays, starting Oct. 2 to Dec 18; Parent Day: TBD

Centennial Pool

Saturdays, starting Sep. 13 to Dec. 6; Parent day: TBD

Sundays, starting Sep. 14 to Dec. 7; Parent day:  TBD

Milliken Mills Pool

Saturdays, starting Sep. 19 to Dec. 12; Parent day: TBD

Sundays, starting Sep. 20 to Dec. 13; Parent day: TBD

Mondays, starting  Sep. 21 to Dec 14; Parent day: TBD

Tuesdays, starting Sep. 22 to Dec 15; Parent day: TBD

Wednesdays, starting Sep. 23 to Dec 16; Parent day: TBD

Thursdays, starting Sep. 24 to Dec. 17; Parent day: TBD

Fridays, starting Sep. 25 to Dec. 18; Parent Day: TBD