HomeMy WebLinkAbout752"Article taken from the Pickering Post, July 18, 1968,
Pages 1+ 6 + 11.
600 Youngsters Splash In ADY Pool Every Week
Walter Safety says, ""Keep air-inflated toys out of the water. Play with them on the
beach where they belong.""
Some 600 southern Pickering youngsters are getting over one hour's time in a local
pool with the help of volunteers, the blessing of School Board Area No. 2 and a fee of
25¢ per time.
The POST heard conflicting reports on the swimming program and decided to
investigate for itself. Last Monday morning, something under 100 children were seen
at the ADY Pool under the supervision of volunteer Alex Robertson. Some half a dozen
women in swimming costume were around the pool, with two in the pool helping
Mr. Robertson. Over in the deeper corner of the pool a young girl and her friend were
giving instructions to a group of about six older youngsters. None of the instruction
appeared to be of the kind seen in most organized swimming programs,
but the kids were getting a goodly time in the pool.
Estimating about 100 children at the pool at a time, it is calculated that actually
about 600 boys and girls are getting swimming instruction each week.
School trustee Norman Banning told The POST that 1800 are registered with the
program -1200 at the ADY pool and another 600 at the Conservation pool at Ferguson's
Beach. However, he pointed out that many are on vacation and so only a percentage of
the total come but for swimming.
Mr. Banning admitted that some concern had been felt by the school board about the
program because it was not expected to be so popular. He said that no lifeguards had
been working at the ADY pool and that had now been corrected. No lifeguards appeared
to be at the pool on Mon
(Cont'd on Page 6)"
"600 YOUNGSTERS (Continued from Page 1)
day morning, at least they were not obvious. Critics of the program pointed out the d
angers of having so many children in the pool at one time with so few adults in
attendance. However, if under 100 come out at a time, it seemed to be under control
when The POST visited the pool. However, if everyone who is registered turned out
one morning, the volunteers would have their hands full.
A letter to the editor has been received by this newspaper and is reproduced below.
The name of the writer is known to the editor.
Mr. Editor:
Pickering School Area #2 children really responded to the Swim program.
They numbered according to a local paper to be 2000 plus, enrolled at 25¢
per lesson and at twice a week this amounts to $4000 per month.
The school buses are provided free, Mr. Robertson says his services
are free and the mothers helping are not paid. The price of a rental pool is in
Stouffville $16 per hour.
In my opinion this figure is an outrageous charge. Mr. Robertson claims he has 210
children in the pool at one time. This again is against all safety regulations and to keep
children in the pool for one and a half hours at a time is a health hazard. No pool should
be allowed to accommodate that amount of children, and for certainly no longer than 30
minutes.
There is little doubt in my mind that if a child were at the bottom of the pool,
he would be miss"
"ed until the pool was empty and then it could be too late.
I fail to see how any child could learn to swim properly or get individual attention.
Pickering Swimming Instructor.
There is no doubt that the voluntary work going into this swimming program is really
appreciated by the families involved, A word of praise should go to the efforts being
expended. But perhaps the safety angle should be reviewed to insure that NOT ONE
child is lost.
The enthusiasm of people to swim in this local program must surely remind the Pickering
Township Council that the public would use a pool which were constructed next to the
Woodlands School. So far the school board has not been approached officially.
How about it?"
The Kids Have Fun At ADY Pool
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