The Town of Hanover is launching a pool staff recruitment and training initiative for 2022.
The town says its aquatic programs bring in over 80,000 people annually and the centre is an eight-time Lifesaving Society award winner for the largest lifesaving program for Ontario municipalities with a population under 10,000.
The town adds, like other aquatic facilities around the province, however, they are on the precipice of facing a shortage of trained aquatic staff members to ensure the programs are still available.
Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture Sherri Walden says, they are aware of facilities who have had to reduce their daytime programs due to extreme staff shortages.
“While our current situation is not critical, the aquatic staff shortage could have similar impacts on our facility in the future. Hence, we are pro-actively implementing a recruitment and training initiative with the objective to alleviate potential program impacts due to lack of staff,” says Walden.
To meet the needs of the aquatic programs, the initiative starting next year will have courses which will provide training for Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross aquatic courses.
In completing these courses, participants will be prepared for the National Lifeguard course. The objective of which is to prepare adults in attaining the needed standards in six to eight months.
The training program will run for two to three hours a week for nine weeks, with the goal to start the program the week of Jan. 10.
Those who take part in the program, can also consider it an employment opportunity, for individuals who are retired or looking for flexible part time work, adults who are re-entering the work force, people who have been raising children and looking to return to work, those looking to change careers, or people looking for a new challenge.
The training requires participants to be able to swim two lengths of the pool, are comfortable in deep water, and are able to meet physical requirements like being able to lift someone from the pool.
Anyone looking for more details can contact Walden at 519-364-2310 or at swalden@hanover.ca.
