SUNDRE – Albeit an ongoing struggle, securing certified lifeguards at the Aquaplex has not yet proven to be an insurmountable challenge.
Ever since reopening following the end of pandemic-related restrictions, the indoor pool has not experienced any long-term closures, the facility’s manager told the Albertan.
However, Kari McQuaid said on March 8 during a phone interview that having enough lifeguards has always been something a struggle even during the time predating COVID-19.
But the pandemic certainly “put a big damper” on the situation and seemed to exacerbate the shortage felt across the country, she said, citing the fact that certification programs could not run and that young people with a potential interest for swimming could not access lessons.
“People just weren’t exposed to the pool” during the pandemic, she said. “So, it kind of stopped the whole cycle of bringing new staff into the aquatics.”
That’s a big part of why swim programs are so important, she said.
“It gets them in the water and developing the love for the sport and then the desire to want to get their certification,” she said, adding that potentially paves the way to inspire them to eventually become a lifeguard.
Further making matters challenging is the additional pandemic-related fallout of such long closures that left many staff with no options but to find other jobs, she said.
“People that were in aquatics, a lot of them didn’t have a job,” she said, referring to COVID closures. “So, they were forced to pursue employment elsewhere and possibly not return. So yeah, it’s a huge problem for sure.”
There’s also the additional consideration that becoming certified as both an instructor as well as a lifeguard – which are two separate courses – represents a roughly $1,000 investment, not to mention developing the required skills along the way, she said.
Even so, she said the Aquaplex with exceedingly few and minor exceptions has since restrictions were lifted managed to remain open every day of the week during set hours.
“We currently are able to be open seven days a week,” she said.
“There was a couple of brief periods where we maybe had to close some mornings. Sometimes, a big kicker is that 5:30 a.m. shift,” she said, adding finding staff with such hours available is no east feat.
“We very quickly were able to recover from that and reschedule it as normal,” she said.
Perhaps her biggest sorrow this year was being unable to accommodate River Valley School swim lessons for young students.
“We were able to have them last year,” she said. “We just don’t have the day staff to offer (this year). In the past, we were able to do school board lessons with like three instructors.”
After being contacted by the school earlier in September, McQuaid said, “I let them know that we were looking at possibly not having enough (lifeguards) . . . we didn’t; we don’t.”
However, the manager praised the pool’s reliable staff for ensuring remaining programs endure.
“We haven’t really had to cancel programming too much,” she said, conceding that the situation can pretty quickly become a bit more complicated when somebody falls under the weather.
“If someone’s sick, it’s really difficult; like it really puts a crunch on because we don’t have any extra bodies,” she said.
But the number of lifeguards has over the years always fluctuated, she said, adding there historically has always been “a big turnover” when lifeguards in their late teens head off to college or university in the fall.
“If we’re lucky, we get them when they turn 16,” she said. “Then, they can be lifeguards for hopefully a couple years before they move onto post secondary.”
As of March 8, the Aquaplex had six certified lifeguards who are all from either Sundre or the surrounding area.
“Recently, a couple of guards moved into the area, so that helped with a huge need we had in the fall,” she said.
“Right now, we’re trying to promote the lifeguard certifications,” she said, optimistic about potentially welcoming a few new lifeguards that are soon expected to complete their training.
Anyone interested in learning more about lifeguard certification courses may call the Aquaplex at 403-638-9370.
