PRINCE ALBERT, Saskatchewan — After months of anticipation, swimming lessons are making a return to the Lake Country Co-op Leisure Centre in Prince Albert, with registration opening later this month. The relaunch marks a key milestone for the facility and reflects the city’s broader efforts to expand recreational services and strengthen community engagement.
Officials confirmed that registration will open Friday, October 24 at 8:00 a.m., with lessons offered in two separate time blocks — Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Saturday evenings — through the upcoming fall and winter seasons.
The announcement has generated strong local interest as families across the region look to secure limited spaces in the popular youth and family swim programmes.
Rebuilding programming capacity
The City of Prince Albert, which operates the facility in partnership with Lake Country Co-op, acknowledged that the initial offering will not fully meet community demand but stressed that this is only the beginning of a phased expansion.
In a statement, facility representatives said: “We know the demand for swim lessons in Prince Albert is high, and while this first release won’t meet the full community need just yet, it marks an exciting step forward as we continue building our team and expanding programming capacity at the new facility.”
The Leisure Centre, which opened its doors earlier this year, represents one of the region’s largest community recreation investments in recent memory. The phased reopening of aquatic programming follows extensive recruitment and training efforts aimed at rebuilding the city’s certified instructor pool after post-pandemic staffing shortages impacted recreational operations across Canada.
Officials say new hires and training initiatives are currently underway, enabling the centre to gradually reintroduce lessons, safety certifications, and aquatics-based fitness programmes throughout 2026.
Economic and community impact
The return of swimming lessons is expected to deliver both social and economic benefits to Prince Albert and surrounding areas. Families had previously been travelling to neighbouring communities for lessons, creating outflows of recreational spending. Local leaders view the move as a step toward restoring Prince Albert’s role as a central hub for family recreation in northern Saskatchewan.
The facility’s aquatic complex is also a key draw for local employment and youth training. Certified instructors, lifeguards, and support staff contribute to seasonal employment opportunities and skills development, aligning with community workforce goals.
The Lake Country Co-op Leisure Centre — named under a sponsorship agreement with the Saskatchewan-based co-operative — serves as a multi-purpose hub, combining competitive and leisure swimming facilities with fitness studios, courts, and community meeting spaces. Its reopening of structured aquatics programming comes after months of gradual onboarding of sports leagues, rentals, and drop-in activities.
Strong community response anticipated
Interest in registration is expected to be high, following years of limited access to aquatic instruction across the region. The City has encouraged residents to register early when online enrolment opens later this week.
While capacity remains limited in the short term, officials emphasized that this phase lays the groundwork for continued expansion. The facility’s leadership team expressed optimism about scaling up operations and introducing additional classes in the months ahead.
“We can’t wait to see more families back in the water — and this is just the beginning!” the Centre said in its announcement.
The return of swimming instruction represents a symbolic step in Prince Albert’s recovery from pandemic-era disruptions, which halted recreational programming and placed strain on municipal staffing pipelines. With new investments in facilities and staff training, the city aims to restore full programming levels and re-establish a strong base of recreational opportunities for all age groups.
Looking ahead
Residents are advised to stay informed through the city’s official website and social media channels, where additional programme announcements are expected in the coming months.
“Stay tuned for more programs coming soon,” the statement concluded, underscoring the city’s long-term goal of offering a wider variety of aquatic and fitness activities at the Lake Country Co-op Leisure Centre.
