Water Safety First, Surrey, BC (2025)

09/26/2025

Giveaway time! Guess the total number of chocolates in the jar and win one 35-minute swimming lesson for up to 2 swimmers with Coach Jessica, at Water Safety First. Valued at $77 before taxes.
One guess per person (yes the kids all get a chance to guess too!). Feel free to share and qualify for a second guess! 😎
The winner will be announced on Wednesday October 1st at 9pm. Place your guesses all the way up until then.

09/22/2025

Registration for November 15 until end of the year will open this Thursday at 9pm! Currently sessions are open from now until November 14.

I’m happy to report that Coach Elianna is enjoying the school/work life balance, so she will be continuing to work on Mondays, from 9-1:15pm, for the month of October! Yay! 😁 She will be taking this on a month to month basis. Click the link to book! https://watersafety.janeapp.com

We will be transitioning to our Fall/Winter set up over the next couple of weekends, which will include our inflatable hot tub, our natural gas patio heater, and the custom plastic walls to surround the pool AND the waiting area. This cuts down on the draft and keeps a little warmth in. Please still dress for the weather.

Lessons run rain, shine, or snow and are only cancelled if the Surrey School district cancels school due to weather, or if there’s a thunder and lightning storm. The pool temperature is increased from 92 to 95 on the cooler days, and I promise you, that no swimmer will ever be cold while learning to swim. 🤗

09/10/2025

7 year old me, cleaning my Aunty Carol and Uncle Mikes outdoor pool in Summerland, BC. This was one of my favourite places to visit when I was a kid. They lived on over 40 acres of farmland, with horses, buffalo, cats, dogs, and chickens. My favourite part about visiting was getting to swim in the pool. Despite it being freezing most of the time, I would jump in and spend hours in the pool. Every morning I would wake up and check the skimmer baskets for frogs or whatever else landed in the pool (once we found a bat still alive! Another time we found a dead rat).

I’ve always loved the water, and I owe that to my parents and family for giving me the exposure to water from a young age. Thanks Mom and Dad, and Aunty Carol and Uncle Mike!

I know not everyone shares the same excitement about the idea of swimming, but I promise, with exposure, it will get easier, and you’ll be on your way to a healthier and safer person!

09/08/2025

Amelia and Belle sporting their new PFDs this summer at our friend’s cabin on Dempsey Lake in Beautiful British Columbia, 🇨🇦

We had the privilege to vacation here with our close friends and kids. There was a total of 10 children ranging from 2 to 11 years old, and 11 adults. When the kids were on the dock, we made it a rule they had to wear their lifejackets/PFD, even if they knew how to swim. Our girls all know how to swim, but chose to wear their PFDs the majority of the time, and I was ok with that!

There was no electricity or cell phone reception there which was glorious. We spent 6 days there, and I estimate we spent 11-12 hours each day, outdoors. All of the parents were dialled in, and distraction free, (aside from me, snapping pictures. 😎). I challenge you to turn your phone on airplane mode the next time you visit the beach with your family! Soak it all in, and watch your loved ones.

08/16/2025

One year and 31 private lessons later, this little human has successfully completed the Lifesaving Society’s Preschool Program! It’s a 5 level program consisting of treading water, front crawl, back crawl, practice wearing a PFD and deep water skills.

One question I get asked often is, “how many lessons do you recommend?”. My answer is always, “it depends on your goals”. Everyone has different goals, and experience with water. Some people pick up the skills faster, while others have deep fears that take longer to unlock. The more exposure to the water and practise you put in, the greater the results. I recommend at minimum once a week, twice a week ideally, and even more for faster results. Practising the skills you learn from your teacher on your own time is also beneficial.

When M came to me, he didn’t know how to blow bubbles or float, or even walk through the water. Now I would feel comfortable watching him swim on his own, from the edge of the pool on the deck! Way to go M! Just keep swimming!

08/07/2025

Benefits of video analysis-
✅The swimmer can see exactly what they look like while performing the skill.
✅We can slow it down and talk about what’s happening, and how to make adjustments to improve.
✅Students can view the video on their own, at a later time, potentially prior to a practise session, and remember what we discussed.
✅Helpful for major and minor adjustments. I’ve used this for triathlete training clients, and beginner students.

It’s a unique tool that I’m happy to offer, especially for those visual learners, like me! 😎 You’re always welcome to take pictures and videos while you’re here!

08/03/2025

Planning a trip to the beach this weekend? Remember to plan ahead and consider the flowing;
✅Hydrate. Alcohol is not a hydrating or healthy choice and can actually dehydrate you. Water or electrolytes are best!
✅Seek shade. Pop up tents are great if you’re planing on being in the sun for a few hours.
✅Wear sunglasses- the reflection from the water can increase the intensity of the suns rays. Did you know that your eyes are still growing until age 20/21!? Protect your children’s eyes! Invest in polarized sunglasses.
✅Wear a hat. Preferably a wide brimmed hat. On a boat? Get one with a chin strap so it doesn’t fly away.
✅Polarized swim goggles are a great choice for swimming outdoors. Again, protect those eyes!
✅Sunscreen
✅Snacks. Bring all the snacks- especially if you have kids. Secure your snacks so birds don’t get into them.
✅Choose a lifeguarded beach to swim at, if possible.
✅Educate yourself on where the rescue equipment is located.
✅Always, always supervise your children- even if they can swim, even if there’s a lifeguard.
✅Check the weather forecast. With all of the local forest fires, the air quality may not be best.

Anything to add? Throw it in the comments!

07/31/2025

Unbelievable 🤯. This was a report card that a parent brought to me, from a local private local swim school, that is recently, no longer affiliated with the Lifesaving Society. They passed all the levels of the Swimmer Program but were never issued a single badge. When the parent questioned the company, they were told that they don’t issue badges. 🙃🫣🫠
The parent had concerns about the quality of instruction, but wasn’t allowed to observe their child’s lessons. They were only permitted to view the lessons ONCE in 15 lessons. 🙁

We will ALWAYS encourage and welcome clients to watch their child’s lessons. We want your child to be safe when exiting the pool to use the toilet. We want your child to know you’re on site to help them, in the event they feel uncomfortable. We want to show YOU what you can do to support your child’s learning journey, while practising at other pools. We encourage you to take pictures and videos of what we are doing, so you can show your village what we are working on, and how to improve. We want you to ask us all the questions. We want you to ask why.
We have nothing to hide. We take our jobs and your time VERY seriously, and will always uphold the Lifesaving Society’s mission and values!

Note to swim Instructors-
If you make a spelling mistake, use whiteout.
If you spell the persons name wrong, get a new report card, or at least try to cover it with a fun sticker.
Try writing a constructive comment so they know what they can continue to work on.
If your writing is illegible, type a comment out and attach.
Don’t point out the lack of attendance, unless it’s a requirement to pass the course, like NL. Some families are divided and custody battles can prevent a child from attending all lessons. No need to pour salt in an open wound. 😌 (This swim school wrote negative comments about the child’s attendance multiple times).

07/29/2025

My chalk messages were a success! I saw at least 2 people stop and read the road! 🤓
Although National Drowning Prevention Week is over, it doesn’t mean the messaging has to stop.
✅Continue the conversations with your children, friends, and family regarding water safety.
✅Push your local government to build more pools and make swimming lessons affordable.
✅Encourage yourself, friends, family, (anyone you care about) to wear their PFD/lifejacket while boating, paddle boarding, etc. Make them seem like the looser for not wearing one. 🤭Call them out on social media for all to see.
✅Suggest your school purchases books about water safety to add to their library collection.
✅Invite the to your children’s school to provide water smart education talks/presentations
✅Play “WWYD?” With your kids. (What would YOU do?). Ex. “What would you do if you went on your friend’s boat and they said you didn’t have to wear your Lifejacket?”. “What would you do if your friends decided to go cliff jumping, and wanted you to join them?”. Role play with your teenagers and help them come up solutions to the peer pressures they may be faced with.

07/26/2025

Yesterday was Coach Elianna’s last day teaching for the summer! She will return for September, and will be working Mondays from 9-1:30pm.
I have loved watching her build new relationships with her clients, and help people learn how to swim. She taught more than 150 lessons in the month of July, from babies to seniors!

This little swimmer in the picture passed Octopus- Preschool 1, in just 5 sessions! He travelled all the way from Kitsilano to take lessons with her. After taking the same level 9 times, (that’s about 72 individual lessons), with the City of Vancouver, his Mom knew she had to try a different approach!
Way to go Coach Elianna and R! You did it!

e.robinson

07/24/2025

Mark your calendars! Fall Sessions will be opening for registration on Monday August 4 at 9PM.
September to end of November will be available for registration.
Coach Jessica will be offering sessions Tuesday to Friday from 9-1:30pm.
Coach Elianna will be offering sessions on Mondays from 9-1:30pm for the month of September with the possibility of continuing through October and November.
We *might be welcoming a new coach for 1-2 days after school hours too! More info to come later.

Sessions do fill fast, so be sure to log in and be ready to book. Reminder that any cancellations will be charged $10 admin fee. 48hrs notice for cancellation or switching to another time. If you’re unsure about if a sibling will be joining the lesson then book in for 1 swimmer, and you can always bring cash for the difference.

07/22/2025

Day 3 of National Drowning Prevention Week!

Only 1% of drownings happen in lifeguard areas. Don’t be the 1%!
✅Still always swim with a buddy!
✅Choose to swim in lifeguarded areas. Think about swimming between the flags if at the beach. Did you know the Lifesaving Society has partnered with BC Hydro this year to provide lifeguarded areas to 2 popular local lakes this season?! They even have loaner PFDs that they hand out for FREE! Make sure you wear it though- it only works if you wear it.
1. Buntzen Lake
2.Hayward Lake
✅Assign a water watcher! Putting full trust in a lifeguard is NOT enough.
✅Educate yourself and take the FREE, “Water Smart Advocate Course”. See the link below.
✅Lead by example. Lifejackets aren’t just for kids. They are for adults too. When you dive a vehicle do you buckle your kid into their car seat and then hop in to your seat and drive off without a seatbelt on? When you get on a bike with your kid, do you put a helmet on your kid but then not yourself? If so, why? At what age do you stop caring about your brain and YOUR safety? Please tell me at what age you suddenly turn invincible. 🤓 Statistics show that males think they are more invincible than females, even from a young age. Let’s all work together to promote water safe behaviours. 😎

Here’s the link to the free online course!

https://www.lifesaving.org/public-education/water-smart-education/water-smart-advocate

Water Safety First

09/26/2025

09/22/2025

09/10/2025

09/08/2025

08/16/2025

08/07/2025

08/03/2025

07/31/2025

07/29/2025

07/26/2025

07/24/2025

07/22/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category