ORCAS

Wetaskiwin Orcas Lifesaving Club

The Wetaskiwin Orcas Lifesaving Club is committed to providing a safe, positive, and supportive environment where swimmers can develop their swimming abilities, build lifesaving skills, and discover their potential in lifesaving sport. Through quality coaching, leadership, and teamwork, our program encourages swimmers to challenge themselves, set personal goals, and achieve their best both in training and at competitions.

The Orcas program is organized into two pathways: Recreation Squads and Competitive Squads. Recreation Squads focus on building foundational swimming abilities and lifesaving skills in a fun and supportive environment. Competitive Squads are focused on Lifesaving Sport, helping swimmers build on their swimming abilities while developing the skills, knowledge, and competitive experience needed to participate in lifesaving sport events.

With a variety of training options available, the Orcas program welcomes swimmers with different skill levels, goals, and levels of competition commitment. Whether swimmers are looking to build confidence in the water, develop lifesaving skills, or pursue competition, there is an opportunity to find a squad that fits their goals.

To provide swimmers with the best possible training experience, registration will be limited in each squad. We encourage you to register early to secure a spot in your preferred squad. Final squad placement will be based on individual swimming and lifesaving skills and determined at the recommendation of the Head Coach.

If you have any questions about the program or which squad may be the best fit, please contact us by phone or email to set up a swim assessment.

Program Information

Recreation Squads

Killer Whales (ages 5 to 7)

The Killer Whales squad is designed for young swimmers who are looking to build their swimming abilities and confidence in the water. Swimmers will work on increasing the distance and depth they are comfortable swimming while being introduced to foundational lifesaving skills and elements of Lifesaving Sport.

This Squad offers three registration options:

Group A: Mondays and Wednesdays — full season (October–March)

Group B: Tuesdays and Thursdays — ½ season (October-December)

Group C: Tuesdays and Thursdays — ½ season (January-March)

Beginner Rec (ages 8 to11)

The Beginner Rec squad is designed for swimmers who are ready to continue building on the swimming abilities, confidence, and lifesaving skills introduced in the Killer Whales Squad. Swimmers will further develop their swimming skills by increasing endurance, improving technique, and becoming more comfortable in the water. Participants will also be introduced to additional lifesaving skills, basic water safety concepts, and introductory first aid skills in a fun and supportive environment.

This Squad offers three registration options:

Group A: Mondays and Wednesdays — full season (October–March)

Group B: Tuesdays and Thursdays — ½ season (October-December)

Group C: Tuesdays and Thursdays — ½ season (January-March)

Masters (ages 21+)

The Masters Squad is designed for adult swimmers who are looking to continue developing their swimming skills in a supportive and welcoming environment. Whether you are returning to swimming, maintaining fitness, improving technique, or looking to challenge yourself through competition, Masters provides an opportunity to train with other adult swimmers of varying abilities and experience levels.

Training sessions will focus on stroke development, endurance, and overall swimming improvement while providing a fun and social atmosphere for swimmers who enjoy being part of a team.

Competitive Squads

Swimmers focus on Lifesaving Sport and will encourage swimmers to build on existing swimming skills and their spirit of competition. Swimmers are encouraged to attend most/all swim meets.

Competitive 2 Day Group A and B (ages 8-16)

The Competitive 2-Day Squad is designed for swimmers who are either new to lifesaving sport or are looking for a part-time training option. This squad is ideal for swimmers who want to develop their skills while training two days per week. Swimmers are encouraged to participate in competitions throughout the season but are not expected to attend every competition. Participation in our home swim meet and Provincial Championships is highly encouraged.

This squad offers two registration options:

Group A: October 5, 2026 - March 31, 2027

Group B: October 6, 2026 - April 1, 2027

Focus (Formerly Competitive 4 Day) (ages 9+)

The Focus Squad trains four days per week and is designed to develop strong swimming fundamentals and lifesaving sport techniques for competition. Regular attendance is essential to support skill development and progression throughout the season.

Swimmers in this squad are expected to participate in the majority of competitions throughout the season, including the home swim meet and Provincial Championships.

Focus Plus (ages 13+)

The Focus Plus Squad is designed for swimmers who are ready to further develop their competitive lifesaving skills and train for advanced lifesaving sport events.

Registration is open to swimmers currently in the Focus Squad (formerly the Competitive 4-Day program) who successfully complete a tryout. Swimmers must remain registered in the Focus Squad to participate in Focus Plus. Tryout details will be shared at a later date with interested swimmers.

Focus Plus practices are additional training sessions on top of the regular Focus Squad practices. Focus Plus swimmers will attend the regular Focus Squad practices (5:30–7:00 p.m.) and then participate in an additional 30-minute Focus Plus training session. (7:00-7:30PM) Additional morning training sessions will also be scheduled throughout the season and will be required for Focus Plus swimmers. The final Focus Plus training schedule will be developed in consultation with participants and the Head Coach.

Other Programs

Junior Coaching

This is a volunteer program designed for those who have an interest in becoming a Lifesaving Sport Coach. Junior Coaches are paired with senior coaches. They will assist the senior coaches in making day-to-day lesson plans, along with giving instructions to the swimmers. The goal of this program is to teach the instructional skills to better prepare potential candidates for the Lifesaving Society Lifesaving Instructor course as well as the Lifesaving Sport Coach Course.

Bronze Medallion and Cross Courses

We encourage all swimmers to take the opportunity to achieve the Lifesaving Society’s Bronze Medallion and Cross Courses. We will be offering the Bronze Medal Awards during the Orca season. Separate registration for these courses will be taken at the pool or online. All Orca members will receive a 10 per cent discount on their registration for these courses during the season. It is highly recommended that all Orca members over the age of 13 take these courses, especially if you are interested in becoming a lifeguard or an Orca Coach.

These courses develop the fitness, skills, and knowledge to perform a water-related rescue and respond to a non-aquatic emergency. Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross are prerequisites for the National Lifeguard (NL) award.

A Swimmer wanting to compete in SERC events must hold a current Bronze Cross certification or higher to be allowed to compete in these events.

The Manluk Centre will be hosting multiple Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross courses throughout the Orca season. When registration becomes available for these courses, it will be relayed to all Orca members via the Monthly Parent Newsletter, which is sent through email and posted on the Orca Facebook Page.

Important Forms & Resources

Registration Documents

All Forms are be filled out and returned to the Manluk Centre to start the process of registering for the program.

Registration Form

Swimmer and Parent Code of Conduct

Photo Release Form

Lifesaving Code of Conduct for Competitive Squads

Information Guides & Handbooks

Orcas Member Handbook

Competitive Squads

Recreation Squads

ORCA Suit Sizing Chart