Image: YMCA BC / The YMCA, which operates the Cheam Leisure Centre and Chilliwack Landing Leisure Centre on behalf of the City of Chilliwack, welcomed back 12 lifeguards at the beginning of the summer, which allowed them to offer a more extensive pool schedule this summer. However, YMCA staff are also acknowledging ongoing recruiting challenges that are impacting their operations. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

YMCA hires more lifeguards in Chilliwack

YMCA hires more lifeguards for Chilliwack pools, acknowledges staffing challenges

Aug 18, 2023 | 10:00 PM

CHILLIWACK — Hiring and retaining enough lifeguards to sufficiently maintain public swim programs and expand swimming lessons has been a goal of the YMCA since it took over as the exclusive operator of the Cheam Leisure Centre and Chilliwack Landing Leisure Centre in 2022.

Toward that end, the YMCA was pleased with the addition of 12 more lifeguards at the beginning of the summer to maintain a more extensive pool schedule.

“We welcomed back 12 lifeguards at the beginning of the summer, which allowed us to offer the community a more extensive pool schedule,” said Lauren Janzen, manager of the Cheam and Chilliwack Landing rec centres. “We have also hired some additional lifeguards and are in the process of growing our team by another couple of lifeguards thanks to the success of our grant program. It is exciting that our Aquatics team has grown since the beginning of summer.”

The YMCA has also partnered with LIT Aquatics to provide the courses individuals need to become lifeguards as it maintains an ongoing recruiting effort.

“The YMCA remains committed to doing everything we can to recruit even more lifeguards and further increase our staffing levels so that the community can enjoy all the great services available at the leisure centres,” Janzen said.

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At the same time, YMCA personnel acknowledge there are labor shortages within its sector due to a variety of factors, including students who return to school and aren’t able to work as many hours at rec centres.

“However, it remains a difficult time to recruit staff in aquatics and many other sectors, which is a challenge for municipalities across the province,” Janzen said. “Adding to this challenge is that staffing levels in aquatics can change quite frequently, which we are also seeing within our team. This is due to a number of factors including staff availability being impacted with the start of a new school year, staff seeking new opportunities, or staff relocating for various reasons.”

While the addition of these lifeguards was a step in the right direction, many more personnel are needed, Janzen said.

“Many more lifeguards are needed to bring us to a stable staffing level so that the challenges mentioned above don’t impact our services as much as they currently do,” Janzen pointed out. “Our recruitment efforts continue to include investing in advertising opportunities within the community, sharing the opportunities with our staff and volunteer community, and stewarding the individuals who participate in the grant program. This is a top priority for the YMCA as we know that by further increasing our staffing levels, the community can enjoy the full experience of aquatics services at the leisure centres.”