Vancouver council backs free swimming classes for novices

Vancouver metropolis council unanimously backed a proposal to make the primary three ranges of swimming classes free for residents.

Mayor Ken Sim’s movement directs metropolis workers to work with the Vancouver Park Board to develop this system, which might prioritize entry for youths between the ages of three and 12.

“On a personal note, my own parents couldn’t afford to send me to swimming lessons when I was a kid, so I didn’t learn how to properly swim until I was an adult,” Sim stated.

Sim invoked historic Vancouver lifeguard Joe Fortes in introducing the proposal, which he stated would assist as many individuals benefit from the metropolis’s seashores and swimming pools as potential whereas lowering the danger of drowning.

A majority of audio system at Wednesday’s assembly backed the idea of increasing entry to classes and aquatic amenities typically.

Several mother and father described how exhausting it was to seek out classes within the metropolis, with one telling councillors she’d needed to enrol her children in Burnaby.

The plan additionally earned the backing of the Lifesaving Society B.C. and Yukon.

“Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death of children under the age of five in Canada,” society govt director Lenea Grace advised council.

“There is no better way to prevent [drowning] than to intervene early with lessons.”

Council heard that swimming classes generate about $420,000 in annual income for the town, prompting COPE Coun. Sean Orr to press Sim on how the town would pay for the plan.

“That’s a big chunk of money,” Orr stated.

“Considering that we’ve asked the park board to find $15 million in savings due to the ‘zero means zero budget,’ where will we find the money for this?”

“We will be looking for staff to review … the city’s operating budget and capital budget and there’s always different opportunities, be it looking at our city innovatively,” Sim responded.

“We’ve already generated a lot of additional non-tax revenues through sponsorships, and the learnings from the mayor’s budget task force.”

Other components of the movement name on the town to develop per-capita pool targets and to take a look at capability growth choices, together with prolonged pool hours.

Councillors heard from a number of park board commissioners who argued council was stepping outdoors its jurisdiction, and will have superior the proposal via the elected park board.

“For 136 years, you know, mayor has been calling up chairs of the park board and saying, ‘Hey, look, we should do something for children of the city,’ and they work together to get this solution,” park board chair Tom Digby stated.

“You’re welcome to call me anytime.”

The movement additionally directs the town to ask the park board to scrap its controversial reservation system and return to a pre-COVID first-come, first-served system for guests.

However, council heard that the park board had already voted in March to maintain the reservation system in place.

Staff have been advised to report again on the plan early subsequent 12 months with a phased implementation plan, together with pilot areas and monetary evaluation.