After deadly weekend in Quebec, some wonder if swimming lessons should be mandatory
Global News
Quebec's Lifesaving Society says so far this year, 37 people have lost their lives in drownings, which begs the question – what can be done to prevent the number from climbing?
Over the weekend, five people in Quebec lost their lives to drowning incidents, including a 14-year-old girl who died at Super Aqua Club, a water park in the Laurentians.
Quebec’s lifesaving society says so far this year 37 people have drowned, prompting many people to wonder if more can be done to prevent that number from climbing.
READ MORE: Girl, 14, drowns at water park in Quebec’s Laurentians region
Heights pool in Beaconsfield, Que., is bustling with kids.
There are more than 275 children of all ages enrolled in swimming lessons at the West Island pool this summer.
The youngest swimmers are two years old, and pool manager Claudia De Felice says the earlier the better.
“I’ve noticed since I’ve been teaching that the younger they are, the less nervous they are around water – it’s easier for them to get comfortable with water,” she said.
Many of the parents who have children who attend lessons at the pool say they wanted to expose their children to water at a young age, so they understand how to swim and also learn about water safety.