Meet Kaylee Kennedy…
K&K Swim School began with a mother introducing her baby to the water. This simple yet powerful moment sparked a passion in Kaylee, laying the foundation for what would become K&K Swim School.
Kaylee and her partner, Karim Zayed, both grew up in Montreal’s West Island, where they met at 16 in a lifeguarding class. Swimming had been a lifelong pursuit for both—Kaylee began at eight years old, and Karim at nine.
By 2009, Kaylee was running Soak It Up Swim Club in Montreal, a swim school she led until 2013, when she sold the business after the birth of their first child, Zayed. The family then moved to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, in 2014.
After settling in Saskatchewan, Kaylee spent countless hours in the water with her two children. Other parents took notice and began asking her to teach their children to swim, reconnecting her with her early experience as a swim instructor in Quebec. What started as casual lessons soon evolved into something greater—a mission to create a meaningful connection between swimmers and the water.
In the fall of 2014, Kaylee founded Saskatoon Swim School with a focus on effective, safe swimming instruction that did not rely on buoyant aids. Her approach quickly resonated throughout the community, leading to growing demand and the expansion of lessons beyond Saskatoon.
In 2016, Karim joined the business, bringing with him a background as a national and international competitive swimmer and a 2012 Olympic prospect. His leadership and expertise in governance, staff development, and business expansion played a pivotal role in shaping the school’s future. As the partnership flourished, the school rebranded as K&K Swim School, reflecting its evolving vision and growing reach.
K&K’s unique curriculum, Swimful, was developed to guide swimmers through every stage of learning, emphasizing mindfulness, breath control, and a deep connection with the water. Unlike traditional programs, K&K prioritizes personal progress and growth over a pass/fail system, recognizing that each swimmer’s journey is unique.
In 2020, due to the pandemic, Kaylee founded K&K Online Swim School, which later evolved to Watermellow Swim School; an innovative online program that helps parents teach their babies (ages 3 weeks to 36 months) to swim.
With pools closed and traditional lessons unavailable, watermellow was created to give families a way to start their child’s swim journey at home, beginning in the bathtub and gradually progressing to the pool. Focused on nurturing each baby’s natural abilities and strengthening the parent-child bond, Watermellow extends K&K’s mission beyond in-person lessons, making early swim education and water safety accessible to families everywhere.
Over the years, K&K Swim School has expanded to 16 cities across Saskatchewan and Alberta, offering private swim lessons in pools across these communities. Now, after more than a decade in the making, K&K is opening its first dedicated pool facility in Mercier, Quebec.
With thousands of swimmers taught across Canada and more joining every day, K&K Swim School continues to grow, fostering confidence, skill, and a lifelong love for swimming.
our mission
Our Mission at K&K is to intentionally teach a love for the water.
connect.
We foster a connection between swimmers and the water, creating a supportive community where bonds are built and nurtured.
trust.
We instill confidence in our swimmers, helping them to trust in their abilities and in our expert guidance, ensuring a safe and reliable learning environment.
challenge.
Embracing challenges is at the heart of our approach. We encourage swimmers to push their limits and overcome obstacles, fostering resilience and determination.
grow.
Our program is designed to facilitate continuous growth, both in skill and personal development, empowering swimmers to achieve their full potential.
inspire.
We strive to inspire our swimmers through positive reinforcement and passionate instruction, igniting a lifelong love for swimming and personal achievement.
Join Our Swim Family!
Create your own story of transformation in the water, where every stroke is a step in your personal journey of growth and inspiration.
