Many water sports enthusiasts gather in the Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough. The center offers swimming lessons, competitive swimming, artistic swimming, water polo, fitness classes (aquagym, aqua-fitness, etc.), and lifesaving. The Centre aquatique de l’Est de Montréal (CAEM) offers all these activities to help you discover the joy of being in the water. From babies to seniors, this club is open to everyone!
Learning to swim and water safety come first.
CAEM Swimming offers lessons at the Pierre Lorange, Annie-Pelletier, and Édouard Montpetit pools to teach your children—or even you—how to swim.
“Our club’s primary mission is to teach people how to swim. We have a civic responsibility to do so. Given the lack of education on this topic in schools, that’s why we exist,” says head coach Johnatan Portes. He continues: “We’re in Quebec, and there are plenty of bodies of water here. Many people have access to them in both winter and summer. It’s simply unacceptable for a child not to know how to swim. Swimming is a necessity.”
CAEM is a club dedicated to teaching people how to swim. It is also one of the few clubs to offer a comprehensive swim school program. This program helps participants improve their skills and feel more comfortable in the water over the years.
Johnatan Portes and the entire CAEM team take great care of your children and know exactly what to say to motivate them and help them overcome any fear of the water.
“We try to encourage the children and, above all, make parents realize that a life jacket isn’t a permanent solution. Swimming is done with your arms, so swimming with a life jacket is like running with your feet tied to a rubber band.”
Once you've mastered it, you might just discover a new passion.
The competition for the most passionate fans.
For those who are passionate about water sports and competition, the CAEM can support athletes and help them reach their full potential.
“Whether it’s the artistic side or the swimming side, in competition, we try to have committed athletes. The key words are perseverance, dedication, and respect for the rules,” explains the head coach.
Through a more competitive program, the CAEM is there to support the most experienced swimmers, even though enjoyment remains a top priority. “We try to teach them why they’re here, why they train every day. They don’t just come to take a dip. I never give them my goals, but I try to help them discover their own through different methods. We help them navigate the path, but we don’t create it for them,” says Johnatan Portes.
The East Montreal Aquatic Centre also offers two sports-study programs: one in artistic swimming and another in competitive swimming in partnership with Édouard Montpetit School. They also have an agreement with Mont-Royal College.
Swimming and taking care of yourself as an adult.
CAEM Natation is also a swim club that offers fitness programs through a variety of activities.
“We’re committed to promoting health and well-being among adults. People need to get moving because we’re not meant to stay cooped up and sitting in a chair. Even though public swimming is great, and even though access points to water are great, having someone to motivate us and teach us how to do things we don’t know how to do is still valuable. We need to learn while doing something good for ourselves,” says Mr. Portes.
If you’re looking for a low-impact way to stay in shape, aqua aerobics is the perfect choice. There are also classes specifically for people over 50.
For people with weaker joints or those recovering from an injury, aquajogging can be a great option. It’s done in deep water while wearing a flotation belt: you’ll feel weightless in the water!
CAEM also caters to expectant mothers by offering gentle exercise through prenatal aqua classes, as well as to new mothers through stroller aqua classes. Parents can get back into shape while enjoying an activity with their baby.
CAEM also offers aqua spinning, aqua training, and aqua boot camp. With this wide range of activities, CAEM continues to grow, introducing young people to a variety of water sports.
“We’ve launched an in-house program that aims to offer, across the six levels of our swim school, a range of motor skills that touch on all of our different disciplines. The goal is for children to discover a variety of aquatic activities so that, by the end of the swim school, they can choose a discipline that suited them best during their training,” explains the passionate coach.
Everything is in place at CAEM to educate children and adults alike.
