Eganville – Swim programs have been a popular and important summertime activity across this region but a serious shortage of qualified instructors has led to a local municipality offering a one-week training program to hopefully help fill the void here.

North Algona Wilberforce (NAW) Township is hosting a swim instructor/lifeguard condensed training course from July 4 to 8 for individuals interested in acquiring the necessary certification to work in municipal swim programs and at local summer camps.

Cameron Montgomery, NAW’s special projects coordinator, said it is no secret a serious shortage of qualified instructors is just another example of how the pandemic affected things.

“There is a shortage across the province of swim instructors and lifeguards due to pools and programming being closed during the pandemic and certifications lapsing,” she said. “Both North Algona Wilberforce and Bonnechere Valley were unable to hire swim instructors this year, and summer camps throughout the region won’t be able to offer swimming.

“Anyone who had older staff at the beginning of COVID, there’s no new crop,” she added.

She said she has heard on different news outlets the problem exists across the province.

She said the township’s training course will be open to staff at local summer camps and recreational facilities, as well as surrounding townships

Ms. Montgomery said the township is able to offer the training program with the aid of an $1,800 grant from the province’s Ontario Sport’s Network fund that will allow people to either finish their National Lifesaving/Lifeguard Society (NLS) training or get started in the program.

Ideally, the candidates should be at least 16 years, but Ms. Montgomery said youths 13 and up will be accepted if there is space. There is no cost to register, however, participants are required to play some incidental costs for the badges, manuals, etc. She noted if any of the participants are hired by the municipality, they would be reimbursed for those costs.

Space is limited and there is already some people registered who work at summer camps.  

“We, as a township, have yet to find someone who has enough of the prerequisites to get upgraded to do our full swim program because it’s a little more involved,” she said.

In addition to the pandemic creating shortages in qualified personnel, Ms. Montgomery said the issue has been compounded by the phasing out of the Red Cross certification program.    

“But there’s still the Lifesaving Society, the governing body now,” she remarked.

She said the township currently has one qualified instructor but requires two to operate the program. She added the township’s program would commence the week following the training if a successful candidate is found. If an individual already has their Bronze Cross, the training would involve a few hours each day for two or three days. If an individual is starting fresh, they will be required to spend 40 hours in the program.

“It’s pretty intense to start from scratch,” she commented.

Ms. Montgomery said it was even difficult to find a trainer for the program as their credentials have to be upgraded every two years.

“We actually did find someone at Base (Garrison) Petawawa because the pool was open there and the certifications were all kept up to date.”

While it is preferred people pre-register, they will accept last minute applicants if there is space.

Anyone interested is asked to call the NAW Township office at 613-628-2080.