A Vancouver Swimming-Access Initiative

Every child should have a place to learn to swim.

Vancouver is losing access to the water where swimming skills are learned. Pacific Swim Academy is building practical partnerships that turn existing pools—and our coastline—into places for safety, confidence and opportunity.

Thousands of children taught through PSA-developed courses
Decades of head-coaching and aquatic leadership experience
One shared goal more capable swimmers and safer communities
The Problem

Less pool access means fewer chances to learn.

Pool closures, constrained public allocations and rising demand are reducing opportunities for Vancouver families. When children cannot access consistent instruction, swimming confidence, skill development and pathways into lifesaving and aquatic work all suffer.

Drowning remains one of the leading causes of preventable death among children in Canada. At the same time, communities need more qualified instructors and lifeguards. Water access is the essential first step in addressing both challenges.

Read the Full Case
Five Ways Forward

Using the water Vancouver already has.

PSA’s approach combines public, private and outdoor spaces so no single facility has to solve the problem alone.

01

Mobile Swim Lessons

PSA instructors travel to suitable private and commercial pools, bringing proven instruction to space that is already available.

02

Public-Pool Rentals

We rent lane space from municipal facilities and turn limited water time into structured, high-quality group instruction.

03

Ocean-Based Programs

Seasonal running, open-water swimming, kayaking and rescue-board programs build fitness, confidence and practical water skills.

04

Strata Group Lessons

Residents receive convenient, professionally managed group lessons in their own building during a limited weekly time block.

05

Hotel-Based Public Lessons

Hotels can open selected pool hours to novice swimmers of all ages, with registration and instruction managed by PSA.

Why PSA

Proven instruction. Real pathways.

PSA’s head coaches bring decades of experience in swimming, coaching, lifesaving and program development. PSA has worked with the Vancouver School Board and BC high-school swimming, is an affiliate of the Lifesaving Society BC & Yukon Branch, and developed and manages Pacific Lifesaving Club—BC’s largest and most productive lifesaving sport club of the past 40 years.

PSA programs consistently develop swimmers, certified instructors, coaches and international athletes. Thousands of children have learned to swim, teach and race through PSA-developed courses.

Meet the Organization
Credible Established safety, instruction and sport leadership
Productive A continuous pathway from novice swimmer to leader
Community-Minded Meaningful work for service-oriented teens
A Small Block of Pool Time Can Have a Lasting Impact

Put available water to work for Vancouver children.

We want to hear from private and commercial pool owners, hotel managers, strata councils and property managers interested in making a limited amount of pool time available for professionally managed lessons.

swim@skinder.com

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