Drop-in Schedules

To enroll in the Bronze Medallion program, you must be at least 13 years of age or already have your Bronze Star. You will also take the Emergency First Aid/CPR B course when taking this course.

Bronze Medallion teaches an understanding of the lifesaving principles embodied in the four components of water rescue:

• Education and judgement
• Knowledge
• Skill
• Fitness

Rescuers learn tows and carries, along with defense methods and releases. This prepares them for challenging, higher-risk rescues of conscious and unconscious victims. Lifesavers develop stroke efficiency and endurance in a 500 m timed swim. The Bronze Medallion manual is provided with this course.

To enroll in the Bronze Cross program, you must already have your Bronze Medallion and Emergency First Aid/CPR B.

Bronze Cross provides more advanced training including an introduction to safe supervision in aquatic facilities. It is the prerequisite for all advanced training programs including National Lifeguard (NL) and Instructor certification. It is also required to become an assistant lifeguard. You need to bring your own Bronze Cross manual for this course.

The Lifesaving Society Emergency First Aid /CPR B course provides general knowledge of first aid principles, CPR and the emergency treatment of injuries. Skills include:

• Victim assessment
• Rescue breathing
• CPR choking procedures
• Automatic External Defibrillation (AED) use
• What to do for external bleeding, heart attack and stroke

Comprehensive training covering all aspects of first aid and CPR. Standard First Aid incorporates all of Emergency First Aid and is designed for those who require a more in-depth understanding of first aid including, legal implications of first aid treatment, spinal injuries, heat or cold injuries, bone and joint injuries, abdominal and chest injuries, burns, and medical emergencies.

If you are currently certified in Standard First Aid (SFA), you can take our SFA recertification course within three years of your original certification date. After this, you will need to take the original SFA/CPR C course again to renew it, and then recertify every three years.

If you were originally certified with a course offered through an agency other than the Lifesaving Society, you cannot recertify with our course and will need to recertify with the original agency.

To take our Assistant Instructor course, you need to already have a Bronze Cross (or higher) certification and be at least 14 years old.

Through classroom learning and in-water practice, this course prepares you to help certified instructors with swimming and lifesaving classes. You are introduced to key principles of learning and teaching and will master basic progressions. The roles and responsibilities of instructors and their assistants are emphasized. Learning materials are included with this course.

To take our Swim, Lifesaving and Emergency First Aid Instructor course, you must already have a Bronze Cross (or higher) certification or NLS and be at least 15 years old. An Assistant Instructor certification is also recommended.

This course prepares you to teach and evaluate swim strokes and lifesaving skills. Through classroom learning and in-water practice, you will explore:

• Proven teaching methods
• Learning strategies and activities
• A variety of stroke and skill drills
• Effective correction techniques
• Evaluation criteria

Practice teaching is emphasized throughout. Materials are included. Full attendance and participation is mandatory.

To take our National Lifeguard - Pool course, you must already have a Bronze Cross (or higher) and Standard First Aid/CPR-C certification and be at least 15 years old.

The National Lifeguard certification is the standard measurement of lifeguard performance in Canada. This course is designed to develop sound understanding of lifeguarding principles and good judgment. The program emphasizes teamwork, leadership, communication, the prevention of accidents and the treatment of medical emergencies. You’ll learn advanced lifeguarding skills in a lecture format. You will be required to demonstrate your ability to manage a variety of emergency situations within an aquatic environment. Successful completion of this course certifies the candidate in the only nationally recognized lifeguarding award. Full attendance and participation is mandatory. A manual is included with this course.

National Lifeguard need to take a recertification course every two years. This course renews certification for another two years.

To take our Examiner course, you must already have a Lifesaving Instructor and Bronze Cross (or higher) certification and be at least 15 years old. You must also have experience teaching at least one course in the certification stream you are applying for.

The Examiner course is the first step in the three-step process to be certified as an Examiner for the Lifesaving Society. It prepares candidates to successfully apprentice as an examiner on the exam of their choice.

To take our Aquatic Supervisor Training (AST) course, you must already have a National Lifeguard or current Lifesaving Society Instructor (Swim or Lifesaving) certification and be at least 15 years old. You also need to have at least 100 hours experience as a lifeguard and/or instructor.

The AST is for deck level supervisory staff. It provides the knowledge and skills to manage a safe aquatic environment.

To take our Supervision Evaluation and Enhancement (SEE) Auditor course, you must already have a National Lifeguard certification and be at least 15 years old. You also need to have at least 100 hours experience as a lifeguard, National Lifeguard Examiner, Aquatic Supervisor or Aquatic Management Training.

For deck-level supervisory staff, this four-hour course gives you the knowledge, training and tools required to evaluate the effectiveness of lifeguard and Instructor supervision.