Surrey, BC – Surrey families could soon save money while helping their children gain an essential life skill after Council unanimously backed a major new initiative to make introductory swim lessons free for kids aged three to 12.
The motion, introduced by Brenda Locke and endorsed by Council on Monday, directs City staff to develop a program that would cover the first three levels of City swim lessons for children across Surrey.
City officials say the initiative is designed to remove financial barriers for families while improving water safety and encouraging healthy childhood development.
“Learning to swim is not a luxury. It is a life skill,” said Mayor Brenda Locke. “As one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada, Surrey has a responsibility to ensure families have access to recreation programs that support safety and healthy childhood development. Making introductory swim lessons free is a practical step that supports affordability while strengthening public safety across our city.”
If approved for implementation, the program could launch as early as July 1.
The motion also directs staff to report back on important details including instructor availability, registration systems, waitlist impacts, expected participation levels and budget considerations before the launch.
Surrey currently operates five indoor pools and eight outdoor pools, while work continues on the City’s new $310-million Newton Community Centre, which will feature a 50-metre competition pool and a leisure pool. The City has also been expanding recruitment and training efforts for qualified swim instructors to meet growing demand.
The proposed free swim lesson initiative is expected to provide more children with access to critical water safety skills while helping families manage rising recreation costs.
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