Marginalized communities learning to swim through special program in Kitchener

CTV’s Karis Mapp checks out a swimming program designed to teach water safety skills to marginalized communities.

Members of marginalized communities are learning a valuable and potentially lifesaving skill in Kitchener.

Afropolitan Canada is hosting their third annual swimming program for BIPOC families in Waterloo Region. Over the course of eight weeks, participants meet up at pools throughout the city to address what the organization calls “systemic inequities in access to swimming education.”

“The main purpose of this particular program was to help our community,” Rosina Amoah Agyapong, program coordinator, said. “[We] teach them about the basic swimming skills and also teach them how to prevent drowning and to be able to engage in the confidence level through swimming.”

According to a 2024 survey by the Lifesaving Society, a charitable organization centred on preventing water-related injuries and drowning, most newcomers to Canada believe learning to swim is a necessary life skill, but half of all immigrants described themselves as a weak or non-swimmer. Many parents cited cost and a lack of time as barriers to enrolling their children in swim programs.

Afropolitan Canada, with support from the City of Kitchener and Jumpstart, is trying to address part of that problem by offering low cost, and in some cases free, lessons.

Classes focus on basic water survival skills such as treading water, surface swimming and self-rescue techniques.

“It’s a roll into the water, 50-meter swim and one-metre of treading water,” Alex Geisel, Kitchener’s Aquatics Supervisor, explained.

“Knowing that we’re surrounded by water in southwestern Ontario and the access that we have, just making sure that everyone is aware and has those abilities to stay safe and enjoy their time, not just the in summer, but [all] year,” Geisel said.

Demand has been steadily growing since the initiative’s inception. In 2023, 93 people signed up for the program and, in 2024, that number grew to 178. This year, the program welcomed 197 participants while more than 250 people were on a waitlist.

“There is a lot of urgency in the area for people who aren’t able to swim,” said Afropolitan Canada board chair Kayla Stephenson.

“The purpose is for us to be able to learn if we are in the water, that if we’re in trouble, to be able to survive,” Stephen said. “They do get a certificate at the end of the program and they’re able to come back and learn further skills and advance their skills in the years to come.”

For some families, learning new skills brings a wave of relief.

“It’s reassuring,” Debbie Henry, a participant and parent, said. “Less fear. Because kids want to be kids. They want to have fun. They’re going to run poolside and if they jump in, they know how to surface, they know what to do to stay afloat. I think it’s important for everyone to have swimming lessons, to be able to survive. I think it’s a basic skill.”

Henry has been learning alongside her children.“It’s been great! I’m learning whip kick, eggbeater and all different types of survival swimming techniques. It’s been good. And for my kids as well – they’re building their confidence in the pool.”

Organizers said they are trying to find more funding to expand the program in the years to come.