PRINCE ALBERT — Families in Prince Albert will have significantly more opportunities to secure swim lesson spots this winter, as the City prepares to open registration for an expanded slate of aquatic programs at the Lake Country Co-op Leisure Centre.
Winter lesson schedules—covering January through March—will be posted online on December 12, giving parents and caregivers several days to review options and plan before registration begins. City officials say they expect heavy interest again this season, but a major increase in available spots should relieve some of the pressure seen during earlier intakes.
Registration for Prince Albert residents opens December 15 at 8 a.m., while non-residents will be able to sign up starting December 22.
The Lake Country Co-op Leisure Centre has experienced sustained demand since opening, creating challenges for families trying to secure spots in recent sessions. According to the City, efforts to recruit and train additional aquatics staff are beginning to pay off, allowing for a substantial expansion this winter. More than 700 lesson spots will be offered—an almost fivefold jump from the roughly 150 spots available in the fall.
City officials frame the expanded registration capacity as part of a larger strategy to grow aquatic programming and ensure more children and adults have access to water-safety instruction. The Leisure Centre, which includes a competition pool, leisure pool, and multi-use community spaces, has quickly become a hub for both recreation and training since its launch.
“Providing more families with the opportunity to learn essential water skills is a priority,” said Riley Janes, Acting Recreation Coordinator – Aquatics. “As our team grows, we are excited to offer more lessons and meet the strong community interest in aquatic programs.”
Janes said the aquatics department continues to build staffing levels, which directly affects how many classes the City can safely run. With additional instructors now available and more expected to join in the coming months, the municipality anticipates offering progressively more lessons in future seasons as well.
The winter session expansion also aligns with broader municipal goals to increase access to recreation and promote lifelong physical activity. Swimming lessons, long considered a core public service in many Canadian communities, have seen renewed demand in recent years as families seek out structured, skill-building programs for children.
Officials note that interest has sometimes surpassed capacity, particularly during peak registration periods. The fall session saw many classes fill quickly, prompting calls from families for greater availability. By more than quadrupling the number of lesson spots this winter, the City aims not only to meet current demand but also to set the foundation for ongoing program growth.
The move comes as municipalities across Canada report challenges with lifeguard and instructor shortages—a trend that intensified during the pandemic and has had lasting effects on aquatic programming nationwide. Prince Albert’s effort to rebuild staff capacity mirrors strategies used in other cities, including targeted recruitment, partnerships with certification bodies, and internal training initiatives to attract new instructors.
While expanding lessons represents a significant step forward, the City suggests that continued growth will depend on sustained staff development. “This expansion reflects the City’s ongoing commitment to increasing access to aquatic programming at the Lake Country Co-op Leisure Centre,” the announcement stated, noting that growth will continue as the aquatics team develops and additional instructors join the program.
Families interested in lessons are encouraged to review schedules as soon as they go live to help streamline the registration process. Early planning may prove helpful, particularly for parents coordinating around school calendars, extracurricular commitments, and work schedules.
Online registration remains the primary method for securing a spot, and the City urges both residents and non-residents to ensure their accounts are updated ahead of their respective registration dates. Because resident registration opens one week earlier, some classes may fill quickly before non-resident access begins.
The City continues to highlight the importance of swimming skills, both for recreation and safety. As Prince Albert’s population grows and the Leisure Centre attracts more users, officials emphasize that widening access to aquatic instruction will remain a priority for the recreation department.
Complete course listings and registration details will be available at citypa.ca/swimming.
