Due to a low number of lifeguards, the Town of West Nipissing Recreation Center has canceled all swimming lessons this summer.
The municipality’s recreation and fitness programs coordinator and chief lifeguard, Sarah Furchner, blames the problem on the pandemic.
We had been closed for several months. Most of our lifeguards moved on because they needed to work
she shares.
Following the easing of sanitary restrictions in January 2022, the center was able to reopen its doors to the public. However, he had to fill several positions.
There will be no swimming lessons this summer at the West Nipissing Community and Recreation Center.
Photo: City of West Nipissing
The training of new lifeguards is currently being accelerated, but there will not be enough staff available to deliver swimming lessons this summer.
In order to be trained to teach swimming, one must complete several instructor courses
explains Ms. Furchner.
These include the Bronze Medal and Cross and programs in CPR, First Aid and Lifesaving.
In addition, those who complete their training must then complete a certain number of hours of practice before being able to teach.
Unfortunately, West Nipissing has been forced to adapt to the realities of the pandemic.
” This is a problem across Canada. Since we were closed for two years, we lost two years of training. Usually all of these courses take place over a long period of time. »
Participants normally start their apprenticeship at 13, and are therefore ready to start working at 16, the legal age to be a lifeguard.
Ms. Furchner believes that the situation should improve by the arrival of autumn.
A difficult year for Ontario’s Témiscamingue
Lifesaving Society Ontario Branch Temiscamingue District Representative Sheryl Gilbert says the many health restrictions announced and then lifted by the province over the past 12 months have had a significant impact on the availability of trained lifeguards.
Young people don’t really have the chance to practice or take lessons and many of them have lost interest
according to her, who is also the coordinator of the youth and swimming programs.
By the end of 2021, a maximum of 10 participants were enrolled in the Temiskaming Shores rescue program.
If it wasn’t for the pandemic, up to 16 people could attend.
Among the ten participants, half have been hired and the others are waiting to be 16 to work.
Ms. Gilbert notes that the most recent courses, which ended just a week ago, had only three participants.
” It’s a very physically demanding job, it requires a lot of training and the training can be very expensive for some people. »
At a Lifesaving Society online conference in April, there were discussions about the possibility of offering free classes, as some programs in southern Ontario do.
Ms. Gilbert discussed with the Municipality of Temiskaming Shores to offer these trainings free.
If the idea receives the support of the city council, she wants to tour secondary schools and promote lifeguard work on social media.
Temiskaming Shores City Council has yet to respond to the request.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Frédéric Pepin
Without hiring a few other lifeguards, she indicates that the municipal swimming pool will probably have to close in the evening on certain days of the week and on Sundays.
According to Ms. Gilbert, the Earlton municipal swimming pool is also looking for lifeguards to ensure the availability of its facilities during the summer.
As for Haileybury Beach, it has enough staff to provide supervision during opening hours.
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca