Some teens spend the summer months polishing up their resumés to hunt for a job, competing with their peers for employment and hours.
Others take the road less travelled and launch their own businesses.
That is just what Addison Kilfoyle and Tori Popowich did — creating Bubbles2Bubbles Swim School.
At the age of only 17, the Bradford District High School students and friends are both highly-qualified swim instructors.
“My mother used to teach swimming,” explained Tori. “As soon as I was old enough, I became a swim instructor, I became a lifeguard.”
Addison was introduced to swimming at her grandparents’ cottage. “We’ve all been swimming, since I was five, me and my sisters.”
They both have their Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross, Water Safety Instructor certification through the Red Cross, National Lifeguard Service certification, and standard first aid/CPR.
Both have worked for the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury leisure services, but this year they decided to start their own business, offering private and semi-private swim classes.
Their inspiration: Addison’s backyard in Bradford has a heated, saltwater swimming pool. “Having a backyard pool — how could you not?” said Tori.
They checked online for possible grant funding and discovered the Summer Company program.
The Summer Company is a provincial program that provides mentoring and grants for entrepreneurial youth between the ages of 15 and 29, who are attending high school, college or university, and who want to run their own businesses during the summer before returning to school in the fall.
It seemed ideal, not only offering seed money for new businesses — the program provides a maximum of $3,000 in grants, including $1,500 up front to help with start-up, and $1,500 with the successful wrap-up of business at the end of the summer — but also mentorship guidance, and other support.
Addison originally applied for the Summer Company in Bradford, but the local program was full. She was referred to Barrie and was accepted.
The grant funding has covered the cost of insurance, and the Red Cross training partnership that not only provides a template for their swimming lessons, but allows the pair to certify their students, in Swim Kids levels one through 10, as well as preschool for ages three to six.
“It was really excellent because it allowed us to better our service right off the get-go,” said Tori. “Now we can use our profits to buy equipment.”
“It’s really nice having the training partnership with the Red Cross. It’s worked out really well for them,” said Addison’s mom, Debbie Kilfoyle.
They have developed their own signage, brochures, business cards and website, and just this week launched the fledgling business — offering fun, customized swim lessons in Bradford in a pool that is fully fenced and private.
There is a shaded area where parents can sit and watch as their children learn to swim. Equipment, including noodles, flutter boards and lifejackets, are stored in a mini-cabana, which also serves as a change room for the young clients.
Classes are offered Mondays to Thursdays, for a two-week period (eight 30-minute lessons per session). The cost is $200 for private, or $160 for semi-private. Fridays are for rain days and missed lessons.
For more information, or to book a time, visit bubbles2bubbles.com, call 416-737-5539, or email [email protected].
The Summer Company grant is only a one-time thing.
Addison will not be able to apply for funding again after this summer — but the pair are hoping that once the business is well and truly launched, they will not need to and the Bubbles2Bubbles Swim School will stay afloat for years to come.
