In the Summer of 2004, Kerri Russell heard about a program through the City of Markham called the Summer Company program, which provided monetary resources for students who wished to start their own business. Kerri, who was teaching for the city at the time, saw a need for a more personalized swim experience with smaller student to instructor ratios and immediately began writing her business plan for Russell Aquatics Swim School.
 

Kerri was over the moon to learn that she had been chosen as a recipient and began teaching lessons in her family’s backyard pool. As word got out, Kerri quickly surpassed her goal of teaching 50 students and was overwhelmed by the interest, reaching 150 students. The following summer, Kerri brought on her younger sister, Kristi and best friend, Drie. Though they could now teach more students with the additional instructors, it still wasn’t enough. The team ended up bringing on more instructors that travelled to family backyards to offer the same great experience from the convenience of your home. In 2008, Kerri and Kristi decided to offer lessons year-round and rented space from a Toronto hotel. In 2010, they moved to a Markham hotel to be more accessible to the families that they had created such amazing relationships with.