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Recruiting has started for pool lifeguards this summer

The plan is to open the pool in May, weather and COVID permitting
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With the pool slated to reopen this year after being closed last summer due to COVID-19, applications are now open to become a lifeguard. (Contributed)

While the Arctic weather has summer far from the minds of many in town, Golden recreation services is already looking ahead to the 2021 pool season.

After losing the entire 2020 summer operations of the pool due to COVID-19, Town of Golden manager of recreation services Jordan Petrovics believes the pool will be able to reopen for public use this summer,

“There were a lot of challenges with getting the facility up and running last season, as we were at the height of the pandemic gong show in March, April, May when we were trying to open,” said Petrovics.

“But with indoor facilities reopening and across the province pools getting back up and running, we have a lot of good information at our fingertips.”

According to Petrovics, town council has given the approval to get the building open and running for summer.

With a reopening of the facility scheduled, the new recreation coordinator and aquatics lead Chelsey Keefer is on the hunt for new lifeguards and swimming instructors.

Keefer says the town plans on holding every course required to earn Nation Lifeguard certification and come work at the pool for the summer season.

“We’re all in the same boat after last year, trying to get re-certifies and a lot of us haven’t been in the pool for a long time,” said Keefer.

“It’s a fun job and keeps you working on your feet all day with other people. It keeps you in great shape and you get to work within a team, which is overall the best part for a lot of people.”

Keefer and Petrovics both said that lifeguarding is a great option for many as a career stepping stone, with many progressing from early lessons with the swim club to certified lifeguards as they grow up over the years. Keefer says in addition to holding National Life Saving, CPR and first aid courses, the town will be looking at providing COVID-safe programming from lessons to lane swim to aquafit classes.

Petrovics says the town is also looking to move forward with a Lifeguard Academy program, which would see high school students earn credits for their NLS courses.

Both Petrovics and Keefer have been hard at work networking with other recreation pool facility staffs across B.C. to help influence the town’s swimming pool policy and operating flow of the building to ensure everyone’s safety.

Questions on applications for lifeguarding positions can be directed to pool@golden.ca.

Applicants of all ages are encouraged to apply, from teens to parents who are looking to stay active in the summer.

“We’re happy to help out. I know that the certification process can be gruelling and overwhelming at first,” said Keefer.

Applications are open on the Town of Golden’s website at golden.ca/lifeguard.



Claire Palmer

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