Image From www.medicinehat.ca

By Chris Brown

Registration Day on Dec. 6

City introducing new swim lesson program for winter registration

Nov 22, 2022 | 1:03 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – When the calendar flips from 2022 to 2023 Hatters will also have to get used to a new swimming program.

At the end of the year, the current Red Cross swimming program is being discontinued and will be replaced by a Starfish Swimming Canada program.

Lisa Kennedy, recreation manager for the City of Medicine Hat, says they’re excited about the Starfish program for a couple of reasons.

“The biggest thing that people will notice over time is the switch from animals and numbers to a coloured system,” she says. “So online on our website at medicinehat.ca/swimminglessons there’s a conversion chart so people can head online and have a look at what their previous level was and what they will be registering for going forward, so we’re really excited to have it.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

2h ago

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

8h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

'Compassionate Friends' offer peer support for bereaved in Medicine Hat

Dec 11, 2024

“Another big benefit that the community will love is that we’re looking at adding about a hundred additional spaces per lesson set so that would help to eliminate or reduce some of our waitlists.”

Demand for swimming programs always outstrips availability, leaving many parents disappointed and relegated to waitlists.

Kennedy says her team did a ton of research to find the best program available. Starfish stood out as the best for the Medicine Hat community.

“It focuses a little bit more on benchmarks rather than skill proficiency. So it helps our swimmers move through the levels a little bit more quickly and it’s more developmentally appropriate for swimmers as they work through their levels as well.”

The program guide and lesson schedules will be viewable online on Nov. 29 and registration day is one week later. Kennedy encourages Hatters to look at the conversion charts so they are as prepared as possible for registration, which will open at 7 a.m. on Dec. 6.

Anyone with questions about new programs can call 403-502-8566.