What’s the lifeguard situation at Ottawa’s beaches?

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The drowning death of a nine-year-old boy at Britannia Beach on June 3 has put the spotlight on the lifeguard situation at Ottawa’s beaches.

Postmedia reached out to the city for answers to pressing questions. Unless otherwise noted, the answers are from Tracey McGarry, director of complexes, aquatics and special services.

When do lifeguards begin duty at the city’s beaches, including Britannia, Mooney’s Bay and Petrie Island?

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(Westboro Beach is closed due to construction on site).

“The supervised swimming season at Ottawa beaches is from June 15 until August 25. Lifeguards are on duty from noon to 7 p.m. We strongly recommend that residents swim in designated swimming areas during supervised hours.”

Considering the warmer-than-usual winter and early start to spring, why was it not possible to have lifeguards start earlier in the season?

“The majority of the city of Ottawa lifeguards at beaches and outdoor pools are students participating in our summer employment program. Due to the school year schedule and staff availability for pre-season training and work, the programming hours at outdoor pools and beaches are scheduled within a timeframe that the majority of lifeguards are available to work.”

Lifeguards working at beaches are required to put in 60 hours of training on beaches before being approved to work, which typically occurs during evenings and weekends in May and early June.

McGarry adds that the pre-assigned dates for lifeguard duty at beaches “also align with the (city) council approved funding available to operate the beaches for the summer season.”

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Beaches across the Ottawa River were open this past weekend, however.

Aylmer’s Parc des Cèdres, Gatineau’s Parc du Lac-Beauchamp and Hull’s Parc Moussette were to be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Is there a shortage of lifeguards in Ottawa?

“In general, the city is currently in a position to meet lifeguard staffing requirements for this summer at indoor pools, outdoor pools and beaches. The pandemic did create staffing challenges and reduced our ability to certify new lifeguards when provincial restrictions were in place, but these challenges did not impact daily operation of the Ottawa beaches.”

It should also be noted here that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ontario government lowered the minimum age of lifeguard certification to 15 from 16, allowing for a larger group of applicants.

Do lifeguards at beaches make the same wages as lifeguards at indoor and outdoor pools?

“They are paid the same under the current unionized collective agreement.”

In a Postmedia article last fall, the city said lifeguards were paid between $17.57 and $18.95 per hour, while instructors earned between $21.96 and $23.70.

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The Ontario minimum wage is currently $16.55 per hour.

Without lifeguards, what signage and safety measures are in place at city beaches?

McGarry says there is “comprehensive signage” at all city beaches, detailing both water quality levels, safety regulations and dates and times for lifeguard duty.

“Additional signage was added in 2022 and 2023 to identify bottom conditions outside of the east end of Britannia Beach.”

People using the beach also receive regular public-address announcements over loudspeakers — in English and French — beginning from the Victoria Day long weekend and continuing until Labour Day.

Does the city have a message for people using beaches before they are supervised?

“We strongly recommend that residents swim in designated swimming areas during supervised hours only.”

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