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Close up of child's face swimming in a pool with goggles and plugging nose under water.
Delivered in partnership with the Lifesaving Society, Swim to Survive, teaches essential, life-saving swim skills required to survive an unexpected fall into deep water. The program plays a vital role in supporting child safety and aligns with the City’s commitment to health, safety, and community wellbeing.
Yellow circle with yellow ribbon icon in the centre depicting long running successful program
Program has been successful since 2012

The life-saving swim program has been offered by the Community Services Department to local Grade three (3) students at the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre for 14 years!

 

Yellow circle with yellow swimmer icon in the centre depicting long essential skills of the programParticipants learn THREE vital skills
  • ROLL into deep water
  • TREAD water for one minute
  • SWIM 50 metres
Yellow circle with yellow hand and money jar icon in the centre depicting community funding support needed for the programCommunity financial support needed

Swim to Survive has historically been supported through provincial funding provided to the Lifesaving Society. In November 2025, that funding was significantly reduced from $1.5-$1.7 million to $130,000 province-wide. Despite temporary reserve funding support for the 2025–2026 school year, the City of Belleville received only one-third of its anticipated allocation. 

Why Swim to Survive?

Basic swimming ability is a fundamental requirement in any meaningful attempt to eliminate drowning in Canada. The Lifesaving Society believes swimming is a life skill that all children need to learn, just like fire safety. The Lifesaving Society estimates half of Canadian children never take traditional swimming lessons - even though swimming is the second most popular activity (after bicycling) in Canada among school-age children between 5 and 12 years of age. All children should have the basic skills to survive. Swim skills are not innate - they need to be taught - and all children deserve the chance to learn. Check out the Ontario 2025 Drowning Report for more information.

Ontario 2025 Drowning Report Stats

Group of children with goggles and swim hats showing excitement about swimming

How Your Donation Helps

Donations will help offset the current funding shortfall and support a more sustainable funding framework for future years, helping local children continue to access life-saving swim skills in our community!

The Community Services Department is pleased to recognize the individuals, groups, businesses and community organizations that help support Swim to Survive. Recognition opportunities are available at multiple giving levels, we've outlined four below, in addition, we have corporate sponsorship opportunities available.

We understand and respect that some donors may also choose to remain anonymous and will honour these requests.

An online donation button will be added here shortly!

Blue circle outline with coming soon in the middle, depicting that the online donation button will be added shortly.

If you wish to sponsor the program TODAY please contact the Community Services Department  through the following methods and we'll be happy to support your giving.

Phone: 613-966-4632

Email: csdgeneral@belleville.ca 

Chart showing donation levels and recognition based on dollar value received

We sincerely thank all in advance who choose to support this important program and help local children gain life-saving swim skills!