‘Snow’ Much Fun to be Had This Winter!

Explore Vaughan’s winter recreation programs, swim lessons and aquatic leadership opportunities

Stay active and have fun this winter! You can now check out the City of Vaughan’s winter recreation programs, swim lessons and aquatic leadership programs available for all ages and skill levels! Explore the Winter Recreation eGuide and vaughan.ca/swim to find a program that interests you and get ready for a fun-filled season.

Swim lessons and aquatic leadership courses

Registration for winter swim lessons and aquatic leadership courses opens on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 7 a.m. at vaughan.ca/swim. Registration for non-residents opens on Tuesday, Nov. 24. Programs start on Monday, Jan. 4, 2027, at all Vaughan community centre pools. 

Learn-to-swim programming is available for all ages, starting with parents and tot classes for children as young as four months old to levels specifically designed for older adults. For those aged 13 years and older, training and certification in aquatic leadership courses are available to prepare participants for employment as City of Vaughan swim instructors or lifeguards. 

Programming includes:

• Parent and Tot: for parents and children from four months up to three years old.
• Preschool: for children aged three to five years old.
• Family Swimmers (NEW): Learn to swim in a shared aquatic experience for families.
• Swimmer Levels one to six: for children six years of age and older.
• Swimmer Levels seven to nine (Rookie, Ranger, Star): an introduction to lifesaving skills, to provide training for those who are ready to go beyond learn-to-swim. 
• Teen Swim: for teens aged 13 to 17 years old.
• Adult Swimmer: for adults who are beginners or who want help improving their swimming skills.
• Older Adult Swimmer: for older adults aged 65+ who want help improving their swimming skills.
• Private and semi private lessons: available on a limited basis and at select locations. These lessons are intended for participants who wish to improve key swim skills in an environment tailored to their needs.
• Inclusion one on one: for individuals living with an identified disability who wish to participate in the Swim for Life program with appropriate modifications.
• Skills Clinics: for children aged seven to 12 years old. These targeted swim clinics are intended as a support for participants who have repeated select levels several times.
• Water Polo 1: Foundations (NEW): for children aged seven to 12 years old. It's time to build aquatic confidence through dynamic, skill-focused instruction that combines swimming skills with introductory water polo techniques.
• Aquasports Action (NEW): for children aged seven to 12 years old. Explore a variety of aquatic sports, including water polo, Vaughan Lifesaving Sport (one of our signature programs combining lifesaving and rescue fundamentals), water volleyball and water basketball.
• Fitness Swimmer: for children aged eight to 13 years old. This program offers a structured approach based on accepted training principles and practices, including interval training, sprints and distance swims.
• Artistic Swimming (Beginner or Advanced) (NEW): for children aged six to 12 years old. Delivered in partnership with York Artistic Swimming. Discover the graceful world of artistic swimming, where movement flows, teamwork shines and the water becomes part of the performance.
• Aquafitness: Baby & Me (NEW): for parents and caregivers with babies. Move and energize your body in the water with a refreshing, low‑impact aquafitness workout with your baby (up to 18 months) by your side.
• Aquafloat Yoga: for adults. Take yoga practice onto the water enjoying gentle movement and breath control on a floating mat in a calming aquatic environment.
• Aquatherapeutic: for adults aged 50 and older. Ease joint stiffness and improve mobility in this warm-water therapy class designed for adults living with arthritis, osteoporosis/osteopenia, fibromyalgia and chronic lower back pain.
• Hydrospin Circuit Training: for adults. This high-energy water-based fitness program combines aqua bikes with cardio and strength training stations into one low-impact, full-body workout. 
• Water Volleyball (NEW): for youth, adults and older adults. Take volleyball from the court to the pool in this refreshing new challenge.

Learn more at vaughan.ca/swim. 

General recreation programs 

Registration for winter general recreation programs opens on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7 a.m. Registration for non-residents opens on Thursday, Nov. 26. Programming begins Monday, Jan. 4, 2027, at all community centres, the City Playhouse Theatre and the Vaughan Studios & Event Space. 

Here are some program highlights:

• Family (parent and child): music and movement programs, including Tiny Tunes, Junior Jam and Make Music with Me; Dance with Me; Family Steps and Swirls; Craft with Me, Paint with Me and Play with Me; badminton, Learn to Play Tennis, gymnastics, Have A Ball, toddler sports programs and family skating.

• Preschool (ages two to six years old): Early Learners (Young Rembrandts), Creations in Clay, Petit Chefs, Kinderdance, recreational ballet and hip hop, Musical Minis and Prop Master Studio, Be a Mini Engineer, STEM Learners, STEM coding and robotics, Karate, Tiny Tigers, Taekwondo: Little Dragons, and outdoor Learn to Skate programs.

• Children (ages six to 12 years old): AI Vision Lab (NEW), Prototypes in Progress (NEW), STEM and robotics, skating lessons, gymnastics, martial arts, dance, coding, culinary arts, visual arts, music and performing arts, pottery, painting and crafts.

• Youth (ages 13 to 17 years old): Teen Chefs: Flavour Faves, Teen Chefs: World Kitchen, Public Speaking 101, Resume Building and Interview Skills, Money Smart: Tips for Teens, and the Volunteer Leadership Program.

• Adult (ages 18 years and older): Fitness and wellness programs, Vaughan Sports Leagues, racquet sports, martial arts, arts and crafts, visual arts, culinary programs, dance, music, language learning, pottery workshops and painting programs.

• Older Adult (ages 65 years old and older): AI Basics (NEW), SeniorFIT, ChairFIT, ArthritisFIT, OsteoFIT, DanceFIT, SpinFIT, Zumba Gold, Nordic Pole Walking, tai chi, qigong, muscle conditioning, Learn to Crochet, Mahjong for Beginners, Intro to Conversational French (NEW) and social recreation programs.

• Inclusion: Connect, NextGen, DownTown Club, Skills Builder Adventure Club, Discovery Club Reading and Writing, Discovery Club Math, Kids Can Cook, Learn to Play Music: Private, Musical Theatre Motivation, Learn to Skate: Private, Rolling Hoops: Wheelchair Basketball, FUNdamentals of Sports, and Building Connections for Neurodivergent Families.

• Special events and workshops: Family Day programs, including archery, badminton, pickleball, creative arts, specialty pottery workshops, as well as, recreational swims and skates at select community centres; Valentine’s Day workshops featuring themed crafts, pottery projects and seasonal baking. Plus, Kids Night Out! will be offered at Carrville Community Centre and Vellore Village Community Centre in February.

View the full list of programs in the Winter Recreation eGuide at vaughan.ca/recreation.

The online registration system, PerfectMind, is available 24-7 and features enhanced search filters, allowing you to sort by level, location, day and time. If you require assistance creating an online PerfectMind registration account, call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or email rec@vaughan.ca.

Virtual waiting room for program registration
We’ve improved the online registration experience for recreation programs to make it fairer and more reliable. You will now be entered into a virtual waiting room during high traffic periods on PerfectMind. During these periods, you will be placed in a virtual queue and a random spot in line will be assigned to you so everyone has equal access to the programs they want to register for. You will be able to see your place in line and an estimated wait time, and once you’re in the system, you can register for multiple programs in one session without re-entering the queue. 

About RecAssist 
RecAssist is the City’s fee assistance program, designed to ensure residents of all incomes can participate in active-living opportunities and experiences. Qualified recipients receive financial support to participate in a wide range of recreation programs at community centres and other City facilities across Vaughan. RecAssist is exclusively supported through fundraisers and generous donations. Availability of funding is subject to change. For more information about making a donation or applying for RecAssist, visit vaughan.ca/RecAssist, email rec@vaughan.ca or call 905-832-2281.

To learn more about Recreation Services and stay informed about new programs and special promotions, sign up for the Recreation Services eNewsletter and follow the official channels on Facebook and Instagram.

For updates and news as they happen, subscribe to Vaughan News and follow the official corporate channels on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.