A Splash of Change

Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) is turning the tide on inclusivity in its own pools.

The university’s Athletics & Recreation Department has partnered with the Toronto Purple Fins Gender-Free Swim Club to create a groundbreaking program for queer and trans members of the BIPOC community (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) to learn how to swim. 

Toronto Purple Fins is a gender-free swim club that welcomes two-spirit, trans, non-binary folks and queer cis women. The program serves a wide variety of abilities and levels of swimmers, ranging from recreational participants to experienced fitness and competitive swimmers.

Making Waves with the Rainbow Fins Program

Steeped in the values of inclusivity and accessibility, the initiative, titled the Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (QTBIPOC) Rainbow Fins program, has already started to make a splash throughout the fall semester and continues to host lessons every monday night inside TMU’s conveniently-located campus pool. 

The university’s facilities, including the Recreation & Athletics Centre, continue to undergo accessibility improvements to better serve the diverse needs of the school community. 

By hosting the Rainbow Fins program, TMU continues to foster inclusive recreation, and supply a venue that accurately promotes the values of the Toronto Purple Fins.

Building a Legacy of Support for Trans Swimmers

This is not TMU Athletics & Recreation’s first initiative to support trans swimmers. In November 2023, the department partnered with clothing vendors Rubies and urBasics to provide free gender-affirming swimwear to trans patrons, an effort that was so well-received it was renewed in fall 2024 (external link)  to widespread acclaim.

While the facility’s binary change spaces still present a barrier for some gender-non-conforming participants, the department’s commitment to achieving equity goes a long way towards ensuring participants from diverse backgrounds feel supported and included.

“Our goal is to ensure that everyone feels welcome in our spaces,” said Matt Edmonds, Aquatics Coordinator at TMU. “Partnering with the Purple Fins allowed us to extend that commitment to a group that has historically faced barriers to participation in Aquatics.”

The partnership reflects TMU’s broader vision of advancing equity in meaningful and tangible ways through collaboration. By joining forces with the Toronto Purple Fins, TMU is paving the way for institutions to actively contribute to fostering inclusivity, not only within their walls but throughout the broader community to ensure everyone, regardless of their background or identity, can thrive.

Transforming Lives Through Swimming

Abiola, a longtime swimmer and one of the active coaches for the Rainbow Fins’ QTBIPOC cohort, recognizes the historical barriers that have influenced swimming access within the community she coaches. 

Still, she remains confident that the program’s partnership with TMU can help tackle the lingering barriers affecting those in her swimming community. 

“Our partnership with TMU Aquatics helps to address these barriers, allowing new swimmers to learn, thrive, and connect with each other,” said Abiola.

“We’re one step closer to making pools and aquatics more inclusive and diverse.”

The Rainbow Fins program was designed to offer much more than swim lessons to their participants and has delivered on its vision through the conscientious efforts of their coaching staff. 

KD, a coach and Program Director at Toronto Purple Fins, believes just showing up to the pool instills the feeling of inclusivity in their swimmers.  

“It’s a place to try new things, to just show up as you are and have fun. And to be able to get into the pool – and know that it is safer and fun to do so,” they said. 

“I am thrilled that new swimmers are learning skills and getting more comfortable in the water,” added Abiola. 

“Our swimmers are challenging themselves, overcoming fears, celebrating their wins, and supporting each other. I feel inspired to carry this into my own swimming goals, and beyond.”

Participants have praised the Rainbow Fins program throughout the fall semester for its transformative impact. For some, it was their first time feeling safe in a pool. For others, it was an opportunity to confront long-held fears of water.  

“Rainbow Fins has personally been an amazing experience for a non binary trans black folk,” mentioned one of the program’s swimmers in attendance at TMU’s practice sessions earlier in the semester. 

The swimmer praised KD and Abiola’s efforts to make them feel comfortable over the eight-week session and highly recommends others join in on the experience. 

“Being able to share a safe space with my community that are all geared toward the same end goal was very welcoming,” said the swimmer.

“I felt safe and seen.”

Looking Ahead: Expanding Inclusivity in Aquatics

The program’s inclusive approach and treatment of its swimmers has created a ripple effect that encourages participants to build personal connections well beyond the pool. 

TMU Athletics & Recreation and Toronto Purple Fins are exploring ways to expand their partnership heading into 2025. While nothing is concrete yet, both groups have expressed interest in creating room for more sessions to run and potentially launching similar programs for other underserved groups.  

The partnership between TMU and Toronto Purple Fins is a powerful reminder of how community-driven initiatives can create meaningful change. As the Rainbow Fins program continues to grow, it promises to empower even more individuals to dive into new possibilities, both in and out of the water.