Not-for-profit ‘Swimming for All’ set to launch in Lacombe

The group will provide free lessons for kids from low-income families

Not-for-profit ‘Swimming for All’ set to launch in Lacombe Published 9:00 am Tuesday, July 14, 2026 A not-for-profit aimed at providing free swimming lessons to kids from low-income families is set to launch at Burman University in Lacombe. Nour Negm, a Red Deer high school student and the founder of Swimming For All, has been working at Burman for the past two years as a lifeguard and a swim instructor.

She also teaches CPR and first aid as well. “I started Swimming For All because I believe every child deserves the opportunity to learn how to swim, regardless of their family’s financial situation,” she said. “Swimming is more than just a recreational activity.

It is an essential life skill that can prevent drowning, build confidence, and create opportunities for life-long participation in aquatic activities.” She also noted that drowning is a major cause of death for youth under the age of 18, and that there is often an over-reliance on lifejackets and various floating devices. The skill of swimming is simply essential to water safety, she added.

Meanwhile, Negm said that through partnerships with Burman University and the Lacombe and District Family and Community Support Services (FCSS), she and a team of volunteers are able to offer these free weekly swim lessons for children ages four to 16. And it’s not limited to Lacombe — the program welcomes participants from communities across Central Alberta including Red Deer, Sylvan Lake, Ponoka, Blackfalds, Innisfail, among others. As mentioned, Negm is a certified national lifeguard, swim instructor, lifesaving instructor, and first aid and CPR instructor.

Her passion for swimming extends back to her childhood. “Whenever I’m in the water, I feel like I’m focused on a goal to either improve my time, or I’m collaborating with others when I go to (various) courses. I meet new people, and I learn new techniques.”

She also noted that she has been to the annual/general meeting of the Lifesaving Society, and recalled how interesting it was to talk with a lot of people who have been in the swim instructor and lifeguarding field for more than 30 years, and others who may have just started off. “I felt it was nice to bring these different experiences together, and to be able to really learn more about how I can grow with my project, and make it regional — across different communities in Alberta and (perhaps) Canada,” she said.

“I’ve always loved swimming lessons — taking part in them, but also the idea of becoming a swim instructor, too. “So when I became in instructor two years ago, I realized some people just weren’t able to continue with their lessons because they couldn’t afford the cost. I really have a passion for it, and I want to help out.”

Families have to be eligible to take part as well, financially speaking. “It’s 100 per cent free as long as you meet the criteria. “Currently, we are 100 per cent ready to start, we just need more people to sign up!”

She is also looking for more volunteer help as well as the program moves forward. “If we had more people, that would be amazing, but we definitively do have enough people to run it at the moment,” she explained. “Founding this non-profit has been a way for me to give back to the community while helping ensure that financial barriers do not prevent children from learning skills that could one day save their lives,” she said.

Meanwhile, she and her team are looking for a minimum of six youth to sign up before they can start up the program. For further information, call Nour Negm at 587-731-1507.