The Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal offers summer camp programming for children, and swimming lessons and aquatics programs for residents of all ages.

Please review and follow all COVID-19 heath and safety regulations and service changes before taking part in your chosen program(s). We are committed to ensuring as safe an experience as possible for all of our staff and participants.

Swimming lessons and aquatic programs

The Township offers swimming lessons and aquatic programs at our Cardinal and Johnstown community pools.

Public Swimming

Weather permitting, the Cardinal and Johnstown pools are open for public swimming:

  • Cardinal: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Johnstown: Monday, Tuesdays, Wednesday and Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Aqua Fit Tuesdays 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Cardinal
  • Aqua Fit Thursdays 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Johnstown
  • Weekends at both pools from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

 

All swimmers, before entering the pool this summer must complete a swim test. The swim test will consist of swimming one length of the pool and treading water for 30 seconds. If the swimmer is successful, they will be given a green arm band for the day, which means they can swim anywhere. If they are not able to complete the swim test and are 12 or under, they will have to have a competent swimmer with them and they will be expected to stay in the shallow end only. If they are 13 and older and did not complete the swim test they will be asked to stay in the shallow end.

Pool Rules

A Covid-19 screening form must be completed before entering the pool. To maintain the flow of traffic at the entrance, we encourage parents/guardians to submit a form online no more than 4 hours before visiting the pool. Pool staff will be on site to ensure the online form was submitted properly or provide a paper form. A new waiver or Google Form must be submitted every day when a parent/guardian/child enters the pool. 

Submit an online screening form

  • Only 25 people are allowed to use the pool at any one time.  
  • Parents are not permitted on the pool deck.
  • Swimmers and spectators must maintain a 2 metre distance from others in the changeroom, pool deck, pool and on the benches.
  • Spectators on the benches are required to wear a face mask and social distance. 
  • All visitors must wear a mask on the pool deck and benches and in the changerooms.  Please make sure you bring a plastic to ensure your mask is secure while in the water. 
  • Please wait for staff direction before entering the changerooms or pool deck.
  • Lifejackets and pool noodles are available from pool staff. These will be cleaned between each use.
  • Users of the pool should not spit, cough, urinate or blow their nose in the pool water. Use your elbow to cough or sneeze. 
  • Avoid sharing water bottles, goggles, and towels with anyone other than family members. 
  • Pool facilities are set up for one-way traffic, with an entrance at the pool gate and exit through the changerooms. Please come prepared to enter the water as changerooms will not be available until after you are finished swimming. Please refrain from socializing with others while exiting and entering the pool area or while on pool deck to maintain the flow of traffic and ensure every one's safety.   
  • Spectators are not permitted to enter the facility at anytime unless directed by the pool staff. 
  • If you begin to feel unwell, please remove yourself from the pool, alert staff, and put a mask on immediately.  

Swimming lessons

The Johnstown and Cardinal community pools are offering swimming lessons by the Lifesaving Society’s Swim For Life® instructional program. Lessons will stress in-water practice to develop solid swimming strokes and skills, as well as Water Smart® education which will last a lifetime. Lessons are offered on weekday mornings between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Lessons are 30 minutes in length. Swim patrol classes are 45 minutes.

Register for swimming lessons

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a competent member from the same household must accompany children in the pool for the Preschool and Swimmer levels.

Both the Cardinal and Johnstown Pools offer the following levels:

  • Parent and Tot (3 levels)
  • Preschool (5 levels)  
  • Swimmer (6 levels) Level 1 and 2 
  • Swim Patrol; Star Patrol, Rookie Patrol and Ranger Patrol (3 levels)
  • Bronze Courses (3 levels)

Updated swimming session dates

Session One: July 5th to July 16th
Session Two: July 19th to July 30th
Session Three (Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross): August 2nd to August 6th
Session Four: August 9th to 20th

Swimming lesson protocols

You must submit a screening form before joining us for swimming lessons.

Submit an online screening form

The following swimming lesson protocols will be in place this summer at both Cardinal and Johnstown Outdoor Pools. All other regular COVID-19 protocols will continue to be in effect.

  • For effective reduction of risk of transmission of disease, instructors need to maintain physical distancing (two meters) from swimmers and parents/caregivers.
  • For all levels in Royal Life Saving Society Preschool A-E, and Royal Life Saving Society Swimmer 1 and 2, physical distancing and safety can be maintained for participants by:
    • Conducting classes as parented classes (with a competent swimmer from the same household) to reduce the risk of disease transmission through physical distancing, as the parent/caregiver is now accountable to ensure that the child is safe in the water and contact with the instructor is minimized.
    • Swimmers and parents/caregivers should maintain physical distancing (two meters) from other swimmers and parents/caregivers in the class.
  • Water Safety Instructors will deliver lessons from the pool deck with a buoyant aid at hand or in the water maintaining a two-meter distance. When demonstrations are required, instructors will remove the swimmers and parent/caregivers from the pool and have them either sit or stand on the pool edge, while the instructor provides the in-water demonstration.
  • Class sizes are reduced and will range from 3 to 10 participants depending on the programming space. When reducing the class size, the swimmer and parent/caregiver are a team. For example, if registering 3 swimmers in the class, this number will include the parent/caregiver, meaning 6 people in the class.
  • The number of participants in the pool at one time will coincide with the gathering restrictions as per the Health Unit guidelines.
  • This configuration would allow for three classes of Royal Life Saving to go on at one time. One class with four children and parent/caregiver participants in the shallow end, and one classes of Royal Life Swimmer 3 or 4 (four participants, without parent/caregiver) conducted in the Middle of the pool and lastly a Royal Life Swimmer 5 and above to be conducted in the deep end. The instructor could be located on the deck or in the water. This will maintain physical distance for all swimmers and the instructor.
  • Spectators will be asked to drop off their child at the gate to a designated meeting spot where they will meet their instructor.
  • Spectators are asked to sit in the benches maintaining 2 meters from all other spectators (that are outside their household).
  • Limited equipment will be available for swimming lessons. One piece of equipment per household will be issued at the start of class. Once the class is over the equipment will be disinfected before being assigned to a new swimmer.
  • Parent/caregivers will be screened in their swimming ability and comfort levels in the water.
  • Lesson start and end times will be staggered to limit the number of participants in the change rooms.
  • A 15-minute buffer between time will be scheduled to ensure time for proper disinfection of high touch points.
  • Swimmers are asked to come prepared for their lessons in their bathing suits, as the changerooms will only be available after their session when exiting the pool.

Summer camps

We run three two-week sessions of summer camp every year at the South Edwardsburgh Community Centre and the Johnstown Pool. Our camps are offered to children between the ages of 5 and 12. Day camp registrations include one session of swimming lessons for your child.

Camp registration is now closed

We have received overwhelming interest in our summer day camp this year. We are excited to be able to offer the program however in a reduced numbers capacity due to Covid restrictions. Unfortunately, we have reached our capacity of 20 spots per session and for the first time we are unable to accommodate all the submissions. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to a full return in 2022.  Please continue to stay safe.

Updated camp session dates 

Session One: Superhero Academy- July 5th to July 16th 
Session Two: The Olympic Games- July 19th to July 30th
Session Three: Celebrating Summer- August 9th to 20th