Russell Aquatics
66 Copper Creek Drive L6B 0P2 Markham, ON, Canada

Happy Tuesday, swim families! Today marks what should have been the first day of our winter 2021 session. While we’re disappointed that we don’t get to see the smiles of our students at the pool today, we’re working hard to ensure that when you return, you feel safe and comfortable in our facility and our winter session can run with as little interruption as possible. Haven’t registered for our winter session yet? There’s still time! Head over to our website to secure your spot now!

At Russell Aquatics, we are so fortunate to have such an incredible team of instructors, supervisors, trainers, customer service representatives and screeners. Every single one of them plays a part in our student’s journey to being safe in and around water and their patience and enthusiasm never goes unnoticed, touching the lives of many each day. Thank you to our amazing team for all of their hard work! Want to let a member of the team know that they rock? Share in the comments and we’ll make sure we pass your message along!

Have a little one starting Parent and Tot classes soon? Start water conditioning at bath time! Ms Cassidy’s summer water conditioning tips can be done year-round at bath time! Remember to start slow and work your way up to gently sprinkling water on their head. This will make it easier when your little one starts lessons as they’ll have already experienced being in and around water with you!

Today is a sad day at the pool as we wrap up our fall 2020 session earlier than expected. While the health and safety of our students, swim families and staff is always our number one priority, it is an incredibly challenging time for small businesses as we navigate our second closure of the year. This holiday season, we are humbly asking that you take some time to support small businesses. It doesn’t have to be through financial means like purchasing gift certificates or products (though that always helps!). Check out some of the ways you can support local for free! Small businesses like ours will thank you!

Goodbye 2020, Hello 2021! From our family to yours, wishing you and your loved ones a very happy New Year! We can’t wait to see you back at the pool soon!

As many of you know, the province announced earlier today that York Region will be entering the grey zone (lockdown) to assist in reducing the transmission of COVID-19. As such, it is with extremely heavy hearts that we announce that Sunday, December 13, 2020 will be the last day of our Fall 2020 Series 2 session. Classes will still take place as scheduled December 11, 12 and 13 and progress reports will be sent out within the next week which outline skills and include feedb...ack about your child’s progress this session. We thank you for your understanding and continued support during this very difficult time. We can’t wait to welcome our little fish back to pool when we’re able! Please note that we are experiencing a higher than normal call and email volume and are working hard to get back to everyone as soon as we can. We appreciate you patience!

To our incredibly valued students and swim families, We hope you’ve all had a wonderful holiday season and we wish you a safe and happy new year. However you are celebrating, let it be a time to connect with those you love most. This year has brought so many challenges and it’s certainly been a roller coaster for us all. It has also highlighted for many of us the things that matter most. As we turn the page into 2021 and reflect on this past year, from the bottom of our hea...rts, we want to thank all of our students, swim families and staff who have stood by us and continued to show support during this incredibly difficult time. It is the smiles of our students and kind words of those who walk through our door that remind us exactly why we do what we do. Thank you for standing by us and trusting us with your family’s swim journey. Your support means the world to us. From our Family to yours, we wish you all the best for 2021 and hope that we’ll see you back at the pool soon, Kerri & Kristi Russell

Winter 2021 Registration is coming soon! You can now view our Learn-to-swim and Leadership schedules for winter 2021 on our website! Want to be among the first to know when registration opens! Be sure to subscribe to our emails through the parent portal!

Meet Christian! Christian has been swimming with us consistently since he was four months old in our Parent and Tot classes. Now at just two years old, this little fish is doing his rollovers all by himself and is well on his way to becoming a super swimmer! We can’t wait to see his continued progress!

Even though it’s cold outside and water has begun to freeze, doesn’t mean it’s safe to venture out onto the ice! Be aware of ponds, rivers, creeks or any other body of water around your home and be sure to educate your family on the importance of ice safety. The best way to stay out of harm’s way when it comes to ice is to avoid it!

At Russell Aquatics, we encourage all of our students to pursue leadership courses. Our Bronze programs give students the skills to not only rescue themselves but also help friends, family and anyone else in the event of an emergency. Registration for our winter 2021 leadership courses is now open! Head on over to our website to secure your spot!

At a loss for what to get loved ones this holiday season? We’ve got you covered! Swimming lessons are the perfect gift for children of all ages or that friend who’s been putting off learning to swim for a while. What better way to show you care than to give them the opportunity to learn the skills to be safe in and around water! Celebrate the holidays with swimming! Russell Aquatics gift certificates available for purchase now!

Looking for a way to keep little ones busy as the weather gets colder? Head over to our website to download and print our free activity sheets! Be sure to tag us @russellaquatics in your completed masterpieces!

Celebrate the Holiday Season by supporting small! It’s certainly been a tough year for small businesses. With frequent closures, business limitations and customer apprehension, it’s never been more important to support your local retailers and services. Here are just a few of the amazing small businesses that we love! It doesn’t stop there though. Tag your favourite small businesses in the comments below to make shopping local this holiday season a breeze! Support small ...by purchasing gift certificates, unique gifts, delicious treats and more. There’s bound to be something for everyone on your list. Want to give the gift of swimming? Digital gift certificates are available for purchase now! Give us a call, send us an email or stop by the desk at your next lesson. We’d be happy to help!

Progress is progress no matter how slow or fast you go! Two more days until Series 1 of our Fall session comes to an end. Then we’re on to Series 2! Who’s swimming with us?

Want to make things as easy as can be after your evening lessons? Bring your little one’s pjs to change into after they hop out of the pool! They’ll feel cozy as can be and it’ll make bedtime a breeze.

Year-round swim lessons not only keep your child active and engaged during the cold months, it also allows your child to build on the swim skills they’ll be using in the warmer months ahead. With drowning being one of the top 3 leading causes of accidental death in children 1-4 years old, it’s important every child learns this skill - one that could potentially save his/her own life or someone else’s. Questions on how to get your child started with us? Email us at [email protected] or us at 905-471-6767! We hope to hear from you soon!

Encourage back floats with mirrors! Have a little one who won’t relax for back floats? We know that water can be a little scary when first introduced so it’s important to find ways to ease your little one into feeling comfortable in the water and working on new skills. Using a mirror is a great way to distract them and encourage them to relax and stay still. In our parent and tot classes, parents will hold the mirror above their head, angling it so their little one can see themselves, supporting the child with their free arm. The distraction allows the little one to relax enough to be in the ideal position for a back float! Eventually, they’ll feel comfortable enough relaxing on their back without the mirror!

Thumbs up for a new week at the pool! Did you know that participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce your little one’s risk of drowning by up to 88%? It’s so important to be consistent with swimming lessons in order to equip your little one (or yourself!) with the skills to be safe in and around water. At Russell Aquatics, we start lessons as early as 3 months of age and encourage students to continue through to complete their Bronze certifications! It’s not a matter of whether you’ll encounter water but when! Swimming is a skill that you’ll never regret learning.

A huge congratulations to our November employee of the month, Victoria! You may recognize Victoria as one of our on-deck Supervisors or as a friendly face at the front desk. Victoria always goes above and beyond and approaches all tasks with a positive attitude. She’s always willing to help whenever and wherever she can and we’re so fortunate to have her as a member of our team! Congratulations, Victoria!

Should my child be wearing goggles? This is a question that we get all the time! The truth is, we actually don’t recommend goggles for beginners. This is because it’s so important that new swimmers get comfortable with having their face in the water before goggles are introduced in order to avoid dependence. Once the swimmer is comfortable having their face in the water, goggles are an excellent option for navigating while practicing strokes and can help with eye sensiti...vity. Think it’s the right time to transition to goggles? We’ve got plenty of size and colour options available for purchase at our Boxgrove facility! Our staff would be happy to assist you in selecting the best fit for you or your little one!

This is truly what keeps us going! We can’t say it enough, we have the best swim families! Thank you @anitahuang0818 for sharing and trusting us with Aidan and Nayora’s swim journeys! . Series 2 of our Fall sessions begins soon. Register on our website and swim with us!

A friendly reminder to our swim families to only arrive a maximum of five minutes before your lesson! This is an essential part of us keeping the number of people in our facility low and ensuring the health and safety of our students, their families and our staff. We ask that students arrive with their bathing suit under their clothes and as per our COVID-19 policies, only one parents or guardian per family accompany swimmers. Drop off is always preferred! We appreciate your cooperation and thank you for your continued support! We can’t wait to see you at the pool!

Double smiles because it’s the weekend and we’re hitting double digits in November . Get outside and soak up all that vitamin D!

With our gentle, supportive, and encouraging approach, your little one will feel comfortable in the water in no time! . Join Ms. Colleen during our weekday daytime classes and enjoy our quietest time in the pool - ideal for first time swimmers! Email us your questions at [email protected]. Happy Sunday!

if you’ve decorated for Halloween! We’ll use any excuse to decorate the school, plus, we could all use something extra to celebrate these days! . Halloween also marks the end of Series 1 of our Fall Session. We’re thankful for all our swim families who continue to trust us with their child’s swim journey! . Series 2 registration is well underway, with some spots left in certain programs. If you haven’t already, head to our website for the full schedule and registration details. To find out which classes still have spots available, send us an email or give us a call!

When Tye started on his own at 18 months old, he cried before every class. But with time, consistency, and hard work, this now 3 year old is loving every single minute being in the pool and has come so far! Tip for Moms and Dads: If your child is showing anxiety before class, show them they can get through it by not giving up! Usually by the 4th or 5th class, they’ll be asking you when their next swim class is. If it makes it easier on both of you, feel free to step out during your child’s lesson, enjoy a coffee or run a quick errand!

Happy Sunday night! Head to our Instagram page to learn how to enter our Halloween Giveaway

Just a little peep of our Parent & Tot class with Ms. Colleen! Look at how comfortable and happy Baby Ivy is practicing dunks with Dad! . Early exposure is key to getting your child comfortable in and around water. With our COVID safety measures in place and classes at reduced capacity, our goal is to make every class a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone! Get your child started on their swim journey by joining us for Series 2 of our Fall session. We can’t wait to swim with you and your little one!

With every child having their own learning style and complying with COVID safety measures as recommended by public health, our semi private/private classes gives your child more individualized training from our instructors, while ensuring the health and safety of our students and instructors! . Help your child continue improving their swim skills and become a stronger swimmer by joining us for Series 2 of our Fall Session! Need assistance with registration? Email our admin team at [email protected] or call us at 905-471-6767 and we’ll be happy to assist you!

Rested, refreshed, and back in the pool with our Tuesday fishies! . With Thanksgiving now over, we’re getting ready for Halloween! Keep an eye out for an exciting announcement coming your way this week!

2020 has been filled with many challenges but gratitude and being surrounded by incredible people has helped us get through it. To our Russell Swim Families, Russell Team and our amazing community...Thank you for your continuous support and trust in us, especially during these trying times. We love each and every one of you. Happy Thanksgiving!

We have so much to be thankful for and being surrounded by these strong minded, determined, and talented females is definitely one them! Let’s continue to encourage girls everywhere to stand up for what they believe in, use their voice, and never hesitate to follow their dreams. Empowered girls, empower girls! Happy International Day of the Girl!

Mood heading into the long weekend . Just a friendly reminder, there’ll be no classes this weekend from Saturday, October 10th to Monday, October 12th. We’ll reopen and regular classes will resume on Tuesday, October 13th. . We hope you and your families take time to rest and recharge this weekend!

Russell Aquatics...Where the love of swimming begins and family is everything! . if you’re looking forward to Thanksgiving Long Weekend as much as we are!