St. Thomas Swim Instructor Faces Challenges from Neighbour Complaint

After teaching children how to swim in her backyard pool for more than thirty years, a woman in St. Thomas says her business is threatened following a complaint from a neighbour.

Longtime swim instructor Joy Dawdy expressed that she feels “apprehensive” as she tries to sort out the matter with city officials. 

“I want to get along with my neighbours. I don’t want anybody to be upset with me, but I also know that I’ve got lots of people who want me to continue doing what I’m doing,” Dawdy said. “I believe I have a gift for being able to get through to people who have had those fears [of water].”

Last August, Dawdy reported that a city bylaw officer came to her door to inform her that she could no longer operate her swimming business from home after another resident lodged a complaint.

“I thought it was somebody playing a joke on me and realized very quickly that it was quite serious,” Dawdy explained, noting that she doesn’t know the details of the original complaint or who made it.

In St. Thomas, home businesses aren’t allowed to have an outdoor component because of possible effects on nearby residents, according to Lou Pompilii, the city’s director of planning and building services.

“It can create impacts for neighbours in terms of noise, traffic, people coming in and out, and parking on the streets,” he said. “It has the potential to create conflict.”

Joy Dawdy, Sylka Perl, Branch Perl and Kate Van Mepplen Scheppink (left to right) get together in Dawdy’s backyard pool for swimming lessons. (Submitted by Joy Dawdy)

The spoke with some of Dawdy’s neighbours who mentioned they’ve heard others complain about increased traffic on their street when students come for lessons and extra noise coming from Dawdy’s backyard.

“It’s actually quite nice to hear the kids laugh and play,” said Kelly Zegers, who has lived two doors down from Dawdy for over 15 years and stated she has never had an issue with the swim classes.

Edith Nimmo, whose yard faces Dawdy’s pool area, shared similar feelings: “I sort of look forward to the lessons.”

After meeting with city officials this week in St. Thomas, Dawdy found out she’ll need to apply for a zoning amendment if she wants to keep running her business-a process that might take around three months.

She said she’s planning on starting her application but worries she might not finish before this year’s swimming season begins.

“I would be heartbroken if I can’t help others,” she added.

Over 34 years of swimming lessons

Dawdy has been giving swimming lessons at her current home for 34 years and taught at her parents’ pool before that.

Her path as a swim instructor started unexpectedly when she worked at a daycare center where a parent asked her for swimming lessons.

“Then her neighbour found out, and then other neighbours were finding out, and I kind of went,’ Oh, there might be something here.’

With such an extensive career behind her, she’s instructed many generations of swimmers throughout St. Thomas.

“It’s really upsetting to hear that someone who’s been involved in the community and helping all of us learn howto swim may not be able todo this,” said Ami Vader who took lessons with Daw dy as achildand later enrolledher own daughterforlessonsat justthree monthsold.

“That individual training is very helpful, and youcan buildthatrelationshipwithit,” shesaid.”Swimming safetyandeven justbeingbythewateris prettyscaryfor kidsandparents , so havingsomeonethat youknowandtrustis important.”

Daw dy mentionedthis isn’tthe first time someonehascomplainedaboutherbusiness. She noted pastneighbourshave approachedher about issueslike parkingandlesson hours, andsheshowedresponsivenessbyaskingparentstoparkat ane nearby schooland wrapping uplessonsat earlier times.

She wishedthe latest complainant wouldhave spokenwithher directly.

“I’m willingtoworkwithsomebody; Ijustneedto knowtheirwantsandneeds,”Daw dy stated.

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