Lifeguard shortage at beaches and swimming pools across the national capital region
A shortage of lifeguards means some beaches in the national capital region will be unsupervised this summer and swimming classes are being cancelled.
Both the city of Ottawa and the National Capital Commission are struggling to recruit staff for the positions.
The situation is worrying for many parents.
"Water safety is so important," said Michael Ranney, a parent with two young kids. "Especially for the past two years, where a lot of kids like mine haven’t been able to continue with their swimming lessons and are still getting comfortable in the water."
Ranney said having reduced access to lifeguards is going to put kids at an increased risk.
In a memo, the city of Ottawa’s Recreation, Cultural, and Facility Services manager said, "A significant number of staff hired for this summer have submitted resignations, mostly to pursue employment opportunities in other fields."
The memo went on to say that the result would mean cancelling certain public swim times, reducing the swim capacities at public swim sessions, and cancelling approximately 50 learn-to-swim classes.
"It’s kind of concerning," said Ashley Stewart, a parent in the Ottawa area. "Kids want to be in the pools and they want to be swimming."
Barbara Byers of the Lifesaving Society says the lifeguard hiring crunch is being felt across the country.
"It’s been a real scramble to get enough staff, recertify staff, and to get them to be able to work for the summer," said Byers, who is a senior research officer with the society.
In Quebec, there’s an estimated shortage of 200 lifeguards.
City pools can only stay open if there is a lifeguard, but it is not the same situation at public beaches.
It means the National Capital Commission is deciding to leave some beaches unsupervised.
"This year has been a particularly hard year to find good lifeguards to monitor our beaches," said Cedric Williams, of the National Capital Commission. "Coverage will vary from day to day or days of the week or weekends."
Byers says the cost of recertification and the pay for the job is a deterrent for many considering the position.
"Over time the minimum wage has gone up and the differential between that wage and the lifeguarding wage has not been maintained," she said.
As people head to the water, Byers says it is important to check whether the beach has a lifeguard on staff because less than one per cent of drownings happen in lifeguard supervised areas.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Prince William says wife Kate is 'doing well'
Prince William said on Friday his wife Kate was 'doing well' in a rare public comment about the Princess of Wales as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
BREAKING Canadian Blood Services apologizes to LGBTQ2S+ community for discriminatory blood donation policy
Canadian Blood Services issued an apology on Friday to the LGBTQ2S+ community for what it now admits was a harmful and discriminatory blood donation policy that prevented sexually active men who have sex with men and some trans people from donating blood and plasma.
BREAKING Toronto mayor hints that WNBA team is coming to the city, marking the first franchise in Canada
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says that she is hopeful an announcement could be made soon amid multiple reports that a WNBA team is coming to Toronto in 2026.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
Ontario coroner to investigate death of man who suffered cardiac arrest while waiting in ER
A provincial coroner will be investigating the death of 68-year-old David Lippert, who suffered a cardiac arrest while waiting in a crowded emergency room in Kitchener, Ont.
'Irate male' assaulted Newfoundland officers with block of cheese, police say
Police in Newfoundland say patrol officers were assaulted Thursday by a "very irate male" wielding a block of cheese.
Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.