Lifeguard shortage in northern Ontario municipalities means fewer on beaches
North Bay staffing fewer beaches, Sudbury also has had recruitment challenges
If you're heading to a beach in North Bay, Ont., this summer, a lifeguard may not be on duty.
The municipality usually has lifeguards at three municipal beaches, but staffing shortages mean only two have them this summer. And North Bay isn't the only municipality in Ontario in that situation.
Community development co-ordinator Bryan Kimber said the City of North Bay has been able to hire 11 lifeguards this summer, while in a typical year, there would be 15 to 20 on staff.
"For us, we only guard three of our beaches within our municipality, so you know missing five to 10 lifeguards is a major hit for us," Kimber said.
Pandemic created training gap
Kimber said problems finding lifeguards is largely due to the impact of the pandemic. Over the last two years, there weren't many opportunities for people to get certified or for experienced lifeguards to recertify.
"So there's a little bit of a gap of two years of people just moving on and finding other employment."
In Sudbury, recreation manager Cindy Dent said lifeguard recruitment has been challenging in the past, "but not to this degree."
Still, Dent said, Sudbury has been able to hire a full complement of lifeguards for this summer, and they're on duty at seven municipal beaches as usual. She credited the city's success in filling staff needs to offering a number of advanced lifesaving courses over the past year.
"We did anticipate there would be some kind of issue, and our … leadership aquatics staff, did make a very concerted effort to offer as many courses as possible," Dent said.
"So we were able to basically grow our own staff, which you know really is beneficial."
Looking ahead to next summer
Kimber said North Bay also anticipated recruitment challenges, so boosted pay for lifeguards as an incentive. However, the city still wasn't able to attract a full complement.
Also this summer, lifeguards are on duty at Shabogesic Beach on Lake Nipissing and Olmsted Beach on Trout Lake. At Birchaven Cove, no guards are on duty this year.
"Everybody has their routines and their expectations on which beaches they can safely go with their kids, and that's unfortunate we can't safely guard those three beaches," said Kimber. "But we're trying to do our best with what we have, and we're just feeling that frustration from the community."
Kimber said the city is working with the lifesaving society, and hopes training efforts will pay off and result in a full roster of lifeguards next year.