Vancouver Island rec centres struggle with lifeguard, instructor shortage
Vancouver Island rec centres are facing an ongoing battle to keep their heads above water – when it comes to staffing.
A lifeguard and swim instructor shortage is limiting the number of programs being offered across the island.
Cathy Watts, aquatic programmer at Saanich Commonwealth Place, says an additional 30 to 40 instructors are needed to meet community demand.
"And then for lifeguards, we need to hire at least 40, 50, 60," she said.
Watts notes that those hires are needed at the Saanich Commonwealth Place alone.
Meanwhile at Panorama Recreation in North Saanich, program services manager Kathrine Beck says they are looking to double their staff.
"Demand for swimming lessons is huge in the community and we just don’t have enough swim instructors to offer those programs," she said.
Beck says a contributing problem is the end of the Red Cross swimming program last year.
"Because of that hiccup, paired with COVID, there’s been a delay in getting more trainers to teach the courses, and get those instructors through the door."
In Nanaimo, financial support is being offered for people to get certified. Meanwhile, on the South Island, there's interest in hiring people looking for a career change or casual work after retiring.
With the recruitment incentives being offered up and down Vancouver Island, there is hope that the staffing shortage will be sorted soon.
"By two years, I’m pretty confident that we’ll have enough staff that we can do all the bells and whistles," said Watts.
Beck is hopeful for a similar timeline.
"We’re hopeful that as we build our staff team and continue to run the courses, that a year or two from now we won’t be in the same position," she said. "We’ll have a full compliment of staff to run our programs."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.