Lifeguard shortage persists as city seeks staff for outdoor pools this summer

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This article was published 16/04/2023 (874 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It may be tough to get into the swim of things this summer, when there may not be enough people to teach how to be safe in the water.

Whether it is the City of Winnipeg, Lifesaving Society water safety programs at remote communities or reserves, or other municipalities and organizations which have pools, there has been a dramatic drop in the number of lifeguards available, compared to pre-COVID-19 pandemic.

Christopher Love, Lifesaving Society Manitoba water smart and safety management co-ordinator, said the organization hopes to train (for free) 12 people to work in its Northern Water Smart Program this summer.

“There’s a shortage both nationally and internationally for swimming instructors and lifeguards,” Love said.

“It’s because of the pandemic. We had restrictions on training and pools were shut down for four months to a year, depending on local health orders and restrictions. For that period of time, no training took place.”

Prior to COVID-19, there were close to 1,100 people trained or certified to be lifeguards in Manitoba; last year, there were just over 900, Love said.

“We are still 200 below where we were prior to the pandemic. We have a large demand for lifeguards… people are frustrated because they can’t get their kids into swimming lessons — this is why.”

Late last year, the City of Winnipeg — which had been forced to scale back some swim programs because of its shortage of lifeguards and instructors — announced it would train (for free) 60 successful applicants in its new 14-week Instructor Guard Training Program.

Normally, the program would cost about $1,500 for each participant.

Applicants had to have a minimum Grade 10 education and have the swimming ability of either a Canadian Red Cross Level 8 or a Lifesaving Society swimmer six level. It is expected to end soon, with graduates able to apply to work as an instructor guard.

(Instructor guards are lifeguards who can also teach swimming lessons.)

City spokesman Kalen Qually said lifeguard recruitment for both its indoor and outdoor pools is ongoing, as well as for summer wading pool attendants.

Qually said the people who work at wading pools don’t need “the same training requirements as a lifeguard, which would include proper lifesaving and swimming certifications.”

Spray pads, which don’t have standing water, don’t require attendants.

Qually said not all positions are needed right away. “The city schedules staggered openings for wading pools, spray pads, and outdoor pools as the weather allows and these facilities are readied for summer operation.”

Spray pads usually open around the end of May or early June, heated outdoor pools receive swimmers around when school lets out for the summer, and wading pools started to be filled July 1 last year.

“The city opened approximately 60 wading pools throughout the summer, however, the number of wading pools open on a given day varied depending on weather, staffing, or possible mechanical issues,” Qually said.

“The city’s ability to operate its outdoor water amenities this summer will depend once again on these factors. Each of the city’s nine outdoor pools were opened last summer, and we anticipate that to be the case again this summer.”

The Lifesaving Society’s program, which brings instructors for a week to deliver free swim and water safety programs, hopes to help about 30 communities this year.

Diane Trumbla, chief administrative officer of Mallard, located on the southeast end of Waterhen Lake, about 330 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, said her community appreciated a Lifesaving Society session about three years ago.

“There are a lot of kids here,” Trumbla said, noting about half of Mallard’s 89 residents are children. “Just because you live near the water doesn’t mean you know how to swim.

“The kids really liked (the program) — they had a blast… It taught them the basics, which is really good. We are hoping they can come back this year.”

In the end, the Lifesaving Society program may be able to help the city, too, Love said.

“The ones we train will work for us from May to August, but then they could work at any other facility or pool looking for staff,” he said. “The number of lifeguards will ramp back up, but it will take time.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca