Rishona started swimming in parent-and-me classes when she was 6-months-old, she has always found the water to be a soothing and calming place. Her deep appreciation for what a proper swimming education can do for a person has driven her career.

Much of her life has been spent in and around the water. She dabbled in synchronized swimming, played on the provincial water polo team, and has worked as a lifeguard on Lake of the Woods (Ontario), Lake Kalamaka (British Columbia), in Winnipeg, and in Israel.

Rishona launched Aqua Essence Swim Academy in 2002, a full-service swim academy offering swim programs, leadership programs, babysititng training and first aid training to people ages 5 months and older. In 2018 Rishona took her passion and love for swimming and safety and launched the Swim With Me! Foundation (formerly Ready, Set, Swim! Foundation), a charitable organization that removes all barriers and gets swimmers in the water. The organization’s mission is to prevent drownings and teach swimming and water safety to those who are most in need. Since the very beginning, she has strived to meet the needs of her students and their families. She’s passionate about safety, about excellence, and about leading a team of instructors who can inspire confidence in the water.

Rishona also runs AquaDemics Tutor Academy a sister company to Aqua Essence (2020) offering tutoring and homework buddies for children and youth in all subjects. Her most recent adventure includes a brand-new swim curriculum, Ready, Set, Swim! that she launched in July 2022. Ready, Set, Swim! is an all-inclusive swim program with a large emphasis on water safety and hands on learning. 

Rishona lives and operates her businesses out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. When she isn't dreaming up her next adventure she can be found cheering (loudly) for her kids Gregory and Izzie and walking her dog Ziggy with her husband Hartley. Rishona is very involved in her community; she has sat on numerous boards and committees. She is delighted to be a Director on the board of Canadian Swim School Alliance and hopes to bring her passion and knowledge to the table.