There’s a juggling act of where to put lifeguards in Thunder Bay amid a nationwide shortage.
However, Volunteer Pool’s program supervisor Sean Bodkin tells us staffing locations such as Volunteer Pool, Widnall, Heath and Sandy Beach has been made a bit easier with recent closures. “Having Dease and Churchill closed at the same time helped last year. This year, I mean, Dease will probably still be closed, and Boulevard Lake is closing for the season as well. So, we’ll be able to pull those staff into other positions.”
Volunteer Pool’s program supervisor adds part of the problem, which has been going on for a few years, is the challenge of people being more picky with the hours they work. “The qualifications you need to lifeguard and instruct swimming are much higher. I mean, it’s not like you’re applying at a corner store, where you can go in, just be in high school. Here we’re asking them to spend thousands of dollars just to get their certification.”
The pool’s program supervisor adds attempts to make being a lifeguard more enjoyable have worked in addressing the issue. “We’ve introduced some additional positions, like at Volunteer Pool, such as assistant instructors who are in the water. Hopefully they will see it’s a fun job, it’s something they want to pursue, and we’ve had some success with that.”
