Our Mission

Founded in 2004 in Montreal, SWAM Montreal is a non-profit organization affiliated with the Students' Society of McGill University (SSMU). Our mission is to offer affordable and accessible swimming lessons to children with physical and/or sensory disabilities. To learn more about our movement across Canada, visit www.swamcanada.ca.

​

Why We're “Making Waves…”

The need for our volunteer-based service is clear. According to a 2002 report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning remains the second leading cause of accidental death among children, despite overall improvements in swimming ability across North America. Another study found that children with disabilities are ten times more likely to experience a drowning accident than the general population (Injury Prevention, 2001).

​

While many children have access to affordable group lessons that teach water safety, the format of these programs does not meet the needs of children with disabilities. Participants in our program often have shorter attention spans, require one-on-one supervision, and need individually adapted instruction methods to succeed.

​

Furthermore, according to the Participation and Activity Limitation Survey, 26% of children with disabilities live in low-income households. As a result, many parents face the high cost of private swimming lessons they cannot afford. For example, while a set of nine group lessons at a municipal pool may cost $95, the same number of private lessons can cost up to $360 — nearly four times as much.

​

Altogether, this data paints a troubling picture: the segment of the population for whom water safety is most critical is also the one most excluded by the current swimming lesson system.

 

Our Approach

SWAM builds on existing, successful lesson programs but focuses specifically on the children most at risk of drowning in our society. We recruit our volunteers from the large university student population, many of whom are certified swimming instructors, and we partner with organizations to train, educate, and prepare them for the unique experience of working with children with disabilities. Each week, we offer multiple individual lessons in one pool session, always assigning one instructor per child. By using innovative cost-cutting strategies and fundraising, we are able to provide private swimming lessons at prices affordable even for families below the poverty line.

 

Our Structure

On Sunday mornings, we offer four sessions of 30-minute one-on-one lessons. You can register your child for a 30-minute lesson at 9:00–9:30, 9:30–10:00, 10:00–10:30, or 10:30–11:00. The cost is $20 per child per season (each season includes 9 lessons). These fees help cover a portion of the pool rental and lifeguard compensation. All instructors are volunteers.

​

A certified lifeguard who is independent of our organization is always on duty during our lessons. The sessions take place at the Cégep du Vieux Montréal pool, located at 255 Ontario Street East (near the intersection with Sanguinet Street) in downtown Montreal, Quebec. We offer two seasons of lessons each year: fall (September to December) and winter (January to April).

​

We do not offer lessons during the summer.

​

How to Register Your Child

You can do so here!

​

Want More Information?

Don't hesitate to reach out to us at montreal@swamcanada.ca!

 

How You Can Help

If you’re a university student interested in volunteering an hour every week, click here to learn more!

If you’d like to support us through a donation or by becoming a SWAM sponsor, please contact us.