There is a saying that 'Everything you want is on the other side of fear' and an exclusive event at the Jayman Built Aquatic Centre may help you overcome yours.

Manager, John Napier and Instructor, Marcelle Coppillie, share having a fear of water can be debilitating for some adults; from a fear of submission past a certain point to even just getting your face wet in the shower, the fear is real and something they will help you tackle.

A one-day exclusive event, 'For the Love of Water' will be held at the aquatic centre for those wishing to conquer and push past the fear with one on one assistance. Napier says he knows there are a lot of people out there that have a fear of water whether it stems from a past incident or because they just haven't been exposed to swimming. "We want to be able to offer them the opportunity to cross this off their bucket list. It came out of a passion for what we actually do and give back to our community. We want to say you can do this and there is an opportunity." 

While the aquatic centre does run an adult learn to swim and an adult stroke program on Sunday evenings, this special coaching session is for those that haven't been able to take that initial step. "This specific one-off event is to try and target those people that are a little bit more afraid; they haven't taken the leap quite yet but they really want to do this but there is something in them that is holding them back."

On June 28th, from 7 to 9 p.m. the aquatic centre will be closed to the general public so that there will be no kids, no other people, no noise...just an opportunity to be relaxed and comfortable. "For some people just getting in a bathing suit is a fear, we don't want to put them in a situation where they are going to be uncomfortable and feel like people are watching."

The first hour of the event will be spent in a classroom environment where there will be an introduction as to what is happening. Only twenty-five people maximum will be accepted on a first come first serve basis and each registrant will be matched with their very own certified water safety instructor. "Hopefully people will be able to drop some of that fear right off the bat, there will be a meet and greet with the instructors and some trust building pieces within that first hour."

A tour of the pool environment will conclude the first hour before swimsuits on and both instructor and participant slowly enter the water and learn some basic skills. 

While it would be great if following this registered participants signed up for an adult learn to swim program, that is not necessarily the intent. In an adult learn to swim class it is a 1:6 ratio and Coppillie, says in some cases they may need a slower introduction. "We can identify those people that may still want to work one on one and not in a group because you do still stand out and it's an opportunity not to."

The spots are limited to the first 25 and you must register by June 22nd to john.napier@slssportscentre.com

There is no cost to this exclusive event and both Napier and Coppillie will converse with each registrant prior the 28th to understand each person's story. "It is about the story and understanding where these people are coming from; until we understand that, we sometimes can't break through those barriers to be comfortable in the water. We aren't looking for their whole life story but we understand that there are identifiable pieces that will keep them away from the water. We are not doing this to scare people, we are doing this because some people have had that fear forever but they have had it on their bucket list and this will provide that opportunity."