Swimming programs across B.C. and in Greater Victoria are booked solid and are struggling to meet new demands.
“Big demand in our swimming lessons, big increase the demand swimming lessons, and a big increase especially for the young kids,” said Meghan Nicklin from Esquimalt’s Parks and Recreation.
“We would love to accommodate every child in this community, and at this point in time because we have the same staffing levels we had 10 years ago we can’t.”
More and more people are turning to B.C. pools but lifeguard and instructor numbers are not rising at the same rate needed. Lifeguards poolside are feeling the squeeze.
“We are stretched quite thin, don’t get me wrong we love what we do, and we love being able to provide this service to the community, but yea sometimes it does feel like you are stretched a bit thin,” said Seth Jerome, an Esquimalt Rec Centre lifeguard.
Two problems are behind the shortage and one is a changing workforce culture in the field.
“We used to have everyone wanted to work as much as possible,” said Nicklin.
“Now what we are seeing is a lot of staff are prioritizing their work-life balance, they are prioritizing their schoolwork. They are willing to live at home longer so their bills have decreased. What I am seeing on the back of availability forms, is that I’d like one shift a week, or no more than 10 hours a week.”
Another reason is that interest among children is difficult to keep up after they complete all the lessons at a young age.
Many organizations and rec centres are working to change that.
“We are doing everything we can,” the Lifesaving Society’s Dale Miller said.
“The last couple weeks we’ve actually been at five different education career fairs around the province, and encouraging youth to look at aquatics as a career or at least a job, it got me through university and the wages are good.”
But until numbers go up, the few lifeguards and instructors will have to work to keep their occupation above water.
Julian Kolsut
