Lifeguard shortage causes Vancouver to cut down pool operating hours

by arslan_ahmed | August 11, 2022 11:55 am

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The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation[2] has issued a new schedule of shortened operating hours and revised capacity limits for outdoor aquatic facilities to address frequent swimming session cancellations and facility closures due to severe lifeguard shortages.

Steve Kellock, director of recreation services at Park Board, said, “Pool closures and program cancellations are always a last resort, but unlike other industries facing staff shortages, without the presence of lifeguards to maintain a safe environment for swimmers, aquatic facilities cannot operate.”

He added, “As an immediate solution to the issue, a revised schedule for outdoor aquatic operations has been created to help reduce the frequency of session cancellations.”

In the case of Kitsilano Pool, the number of weekday evening sessions, and morning and evening weekend sessions have been reduced. Second Beach Pool, located near the beach, trails, and Stanely Park forest has seen a cancellation of 9:30 a.m. session, with the day’s first session now starting at 12:15 p.m. instead. While New Brighton Pool hours will see no change, there might be an effect to the capacity limits for swim sessions in late evenings, in line with the adjusted visitor-to-lifeguard ratio. Every pool in Vancouver calculates the total capacity of swimmers allowed at any given time based on visitor-to-lifeguard ratios, determined on the number of lifeguards available to conduct operations safely.

While there are a total of 152 lifeguards that have been hired in the city this number is still 30 per cent lower than the pre-COVID availability. Park Board is still hiring lifeguards, and the hourly pay rate for outdoor Lifeguard I position now starts at $30.81, which also includes an additional 12 per cent adjustment for benefits not part of the pay, which hikes the total wage to $34.51 per hour.

A cause attributable to lifeguard shortage is the reduction or cancellation of certification programs for lifeguards during the pandemic. While these programs are now being offered again, there will still be a gap of a couple of years until they can take out the next batch of qualified lifeguards.

Source URL: https://www.poolspamarketing.com/trade/news/lifeguard-shortage-causes-vancouver-to-cut-down-pool-operating-hours/

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