Meet The swim kids team

---

Hello, I'm Ms. Holly. I have been teaching swim lessons to infants and young children for 17yrs. During that time I have fine tuned the Swim Kids program to cater to the specific needs of my Calgary clients. 

I started this journey when my oldest son was 3yrs old. He was a good kid; smart, and a good listener, but I live in a lake community and wouldn't let him be on the beach without a life jacket. As I was nursing my second son and my 3yr old was overheating while building a sand castle in his life jacket, I felt there had to be a way to keep him safe and keep my sanity.

I enrolled my son in traditional swim lessons. What I understood most clearly was that singing songs and blowing bubbles was not going to keep my kids safe at the lake. I did my research and found some lessons that were more comprehensive than what was traditionally available in Calgary. There are some excellent programs available around the world. I inquired to all of them. I gathered a group of like-minded moms in Calgary that were ready and willing to participate in whatever classes we could arrange. Then came the heart break... None of them would teach my kids in Canada. None! I was sad and disheartened. I gave up. ​​

In my dismay I was telling my story to a friend who is a fireman for the Calgary Fire Department. As I finished my story he started his. He told me about responding to a call where a young boy had drowned in one of the community lakes. He told me how terrible it was. He spoke of the devastation of the parents. He told me he never wanted to be part of that again. My heart sank remembering how hard I had tried and no one cared about my kids. Then my friend said something that renewed my desire to protect my sons. "Someone has to do something!". That sentence echoed in my mind for the rest of the playdate. That night I told my husband I was going to be the one to "do something". I arranged for myself to get the training I needed in order to teach these valuable life skills. 

​17years later I feel I still teach with that same passion. I have personally taught over 1500 children. I've also trained 5 other coaches in an effort to help as many children as possible to gain a complete understanding of water. I teach every child with love and patience. I know how unique they all are. I improve my teaching with each student that I meet. I have the best job in Calgary. I get to meet so many amazing families and watch as their children learn and grow into confident, competent swimmers. 

Now, a mother of 4 children, I feel I am lucky to have found such a positive teaching tool in my life. I am grateful to all the parents who have trusted me with their children. I am grateful to a loving husband that encourages me to be better and I am extremely grateful to my own children who continually challenge and surprise me.

Hello, I am Ms. Sabrina. I began teaching in January 2022 after registering my baby in Swim Kids back in September 2021. I have followed Swim Kids for many years even before I had a child of my own. I knew I wanted to register my babies as soon as they were old enough as I believed this skill was so important. I reached out to Holly once my child was on the waitlist and said I want to teach this. I thought and talked about it every single day until I started, I could not wait to get into the water. There is nothing more rewarding than watching my students master the skills, gain confidence in the water and have them tell me how awesome they are. I am so blessed to wake up every day and be excited to go to work. 

Ms. Sabrina is currently on maternity leave. We wish her so much love and all the snuggles with the newest addition to her family!

 Hello, I’m Ms. Brittney. My swim coach career started when I became a new mom, and I was terrified to leave my baby in the bathtub unattended. I was constantly told of all the dangers of leaving young children in the water without supervision, and of all the devastating things that could happen if you do. I was not okay with feeling scared, and anxious about having my child in the water. I wanted to know that she was safe and could survive on her own should something happen. So I enrolled my oldest with Holly when she was 14 months old. I was so incredibly shocked and proud of how my baby could be safe in the water at such a young age, and it was all because of what Ms. Holly taught! The fear and unsafe feelings became extinct.
After enrolling my second child (who was 8 months at the time), with Swim Kids, and enrolling my oldest in refresher lessons, I realized how much I LOVE swimming with my kids. I loved watching how they went from being scared of the water, to loving the water! Best of all, I knew they were safe!! As a parent, that’s all we want for our children, for them to be safe and have fun. This led me to join the Swim Kids team as a coach, so that I can help other children to have fun and survive in the water. All while giving other parents the peace of mind knowing that their children are safe and are having fun! 

Hello, I’m Ms. Dallas! I've been passionate about water since I was just a year old. My dad took me swimming to the lake by our house almost every warm day. I even started traditional swim lessons at this lake before I could walk and went on to swim competitively for 5 years. Swimming has always been more than just a sport to me - it is a source of joy, confidence and personal growth. I'm a dedicated coach with a deep love for working with children. I'm the proud parent of special needs twins who are a constant inspiration to me.

Having experienced the challenges and triumphs of raising children with special needs, I know how important it is to create a supportive, inclusive and fun environment for all kids to thrive. My goal is to make our 10min swim class the most enjoyable and rewarding part of your child's day. With my years of experience in our family pool and a heart full of patience and understanding, I am committed to helping every child feel confident in the water, learn new skills and have fun along the way.

I believe that every child deserves the change to build confidence and experience the freedom that comes with being comfortable and safe in the water. I can't wait to work with your child to help them reach their swimming potential!