About Us
In 2013, we started out with one instructor and just a few students. Since then we’ve grown, teaching hundreds of students in Manitoba each year. With our business primarily referral based, our growing numbers let us know we are providing our students with an exceptional learning experience. From the beginning our mission is, and always has been, to give everyone the opportunity to have more personalized lessons which are affordable, safe, and flexible. We also believe it all starts with a great team of instructors
Our Instructors
Our instructors hold Lifesaving Society certifications. They are certified as either a Swim for Life Instructor, a Lifesaving Instructor, or both. Our instructors also coteach with an experienced instructor for an entire session of lessons before teaching on their own. Lastly, all of our instructors have completed criminal record checks and child abuse registry checks.
Meet our incredible team of instructors!
Desiree Bremner
BSc | NATIONAL TRAINER | SWIM & LIFESAVING INSTRUCTOR
Desiree started swimming at age 4 and later on joined the Winnipeg Wave Swim Club. Now, she shares her passion by teaching swimming in her community.
In 2020, she joined a nationwide committee of Red Cross volunteers to collaborate on innovative ways to deliver water safety education during the pandemic. That year, the committee offered free online sessions on water safety and first aid to audiences both nationally and internationally.
She also worked alongside the Lifesaving Society in 2020 to create an online course dedicated to emergency preparedness in and around water—an initiative that was the first of its kind.
Recognized for her leadership and expertise in water safety education, Desiree currently serves as the Committee Chair for the Lifesaving Society’s National Trainers in Manitoba.
Her qualifications include certifications as a Swim and Lifesaving Instructor, Instructor Trainer, National Trainer, and Child Care Assistant. She is also a graduate of the University of Winnipeg, holding a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in biochemistry.
Desiree believes that swimming is a vital life skill. Beyond offering opportunities to enjoy memorable experiences with friends and family—at the beach or the local pool—it is essential for preventing drowning.
Emily K.
BA | SENIOR INSTRUCTOR | WATER SAFETY INSTRUCTOR | LIFESAVING INSTRUCTOR
Instructor Emily K. has been part of our team since 2016. However, even before becoming an instructor, swimming has been a large part of her life. In 2003 she started swimming with the Manitoba Marlins and trained with them for 11 years. During that time, she became a Senior National Qualifier, did training camps and competed in swim meets in Maui and at the Commonwealth Games trials in Victoria, BC (Senior Nationals). Safe to say she definitely knows what she’s doing when it comes to swimming!
In the past, she’s worked as an Instructor/Lifeguard at the YMCA, as a Beach Safety Officer at Birds Hill, and worked abroad as an Instructor/Lifeguard at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Center in Australia.
She has a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Psychology and Minor in Environmental Science. She is also certified as a Lifesaving Instructor, Lifesaving Society National Lifeguard (Pool & Waterfront), Red Cross National Lifeguard (Waterfront), and Red Cross Water Safety Instructor. She also volunteers as a Crisis Responder for Kids Help Phone.
Emily H.
SENIOR INSTRUCTOR | WATER SAFETY INSTRUCTOR | LIFESAVING INSTRUCTOR
Instructor Emilie H. has been teaching at Benchmark Swim Academy since January 2018. She is a dedicated instructor who has a high level of creativity when it comes to teaching and is always finding new ways to help her students reach their goals. Emilie has always loved the water. During high school much of her free time was spent at the Winnipeg Rowing Club (WRC) and training in rowing on the Red River. Later on, she had the opportunity to become a Coach and then Club Manager at the WRC. Emilie also played Underwater Football for one year at the University of Manitoba!
Emilie is English-French bilingual, and certified as a Lifesaving Instructor, National Lifeguard (Lifesaving Society), and Red Cross Water Safety Instructor. She is currently a 4th-year undergraduate student at the University of Winnipeg, completing her BSc. Honors in Neuroscience in 2021. Emilie has volunteered as a Swim Instructor at Manitoba Swimmingly for 3 years and is now a supervisor for the non-profit charitable organization. She also works as an interpreter for Festival du Voyageur.
Paige K.
BA | WATER SAFETY INSTRUCTOR
Instructor Paige K. started teaching at Benchmark Swim Academy in the spring of 2019. She is certified as a National Lifeguard (Pool & Waterfront) and Red Cross Water Safety Instructor. She graduated from University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Arts, a Major in Psychology and a Minor in Linguistics. She’s also a Swim Instructor for the Seven Oaks School Division. In her spare time she dances with Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and volunteers at the Manitoba Theatre Centre (John Hirsch Mainstage and Tom Hendry Warehouse). She also enjoys traveling, hiking and scuba diving!
In the past, she was an Instructor and Lifeguard at Kinsmen Lake, a Creative Movement Dance Teacher at Rossdale Ukrainian Dance School, and a Beach Safety Officer at Birds Hill Provincial Park. She’s also volunteered at Folklorama (Ukrainain-Kyiv Pavilion) and at Making Waves Winnipeg.
Sarah S.
WATER SAFETY INSTRUCTOR
Instructor Sarah S. joined our team in the summer of 2019.In addition to swimming, sports have always been a huge part of her life. She’s played hockey for most of her life, going on 13 years now! She’s also played soccer for 10 years, basketball for 3 years and badminton for 2 years. She is certified as a Red Cross Water Safety Instructor. She will be completing high school this year and plans on attending university in the fall of 2020. She also works a Swim Instructor at the Selkirk Community Pool.
Amber S.
WATER SAFETY INSTRUCTOR
Instructor Amber S. joined our team in the fall of 2019. She is certified as a Red Cross Water Safety Instructor. On top of her devotion to swimming and teaching, Amber has many other extra curricular accomplishments. She’s been playing piano for the past 11 years and has completed up to level 8. She has also been playing hockey for the past 8 years, served as a Canadian Cancer Society Manitoba Division Residential Canvasser for the past 5 years, and has also participated in the Canadian Shoreline Cleanup in 2018. She will be graduating high school this year and will be attending university in the fall.