Vancouver Park Board changing pool hours amid lifeguard shortage

Swim times shortened, drop-ins at city pools getting cancelled --@KierJunos reports on the fallout of a continent-wide lifeguard shortage -- which is affecting Vancouver, too.

By Hana Mae Nassar

Posted August 5, 2022 11:06 am.

Last Updated August 5, 2022 6:43 pm.

Pointing to a lifeguard shortage, the Vancouver Park Board is reducing pool hours at a number of its facilities.

In addition to time changes, the board says it’s also been forced to cancel some swim lessons or even close facilities altogether.

Saying these measures are a “last resort,” the Park Board says it cannot maintain a safe swimming environment without lifeguards.

“As an immediate solution to the issue, a revised schedule for outdoor aquatic operations has been created to help reduce the frequency of session cancellations,” said Steve Kellock, director of Recreation Services.

The changes will take effect starting Saturday, Aug. 6.

Kits Pool will see fewer evening sessions during the weekdays, as well as a reduction in morning and evening sessions over the weekends.

Second Beach Pool’s 9:30 a.m. session is no longer available, with the first available session now 12:15 p.m.

Meanwhile, there will be no changes to the swimming schedule at New Brighton Pool, though there will be a more limited capacity in the evening hours.

The Vancouver Park Board says it hired more than 150 lifeguards in the lead up to this season. However, it notes numbers are still down about 30 per cent compared to pre-COVID times.

“While 152 lifeguards may seem like a lot, this figure only reflects the total number of lifeguards in the system, and does not accurately depict the number of lifeguards available on a day-to-day basis to take shifts,” the board said in a statement.

It cites a pause or reduction in the number of lifeguard certification programs as one reason staffing levels have been affected. While these programs are running again, the Park Board says the pandemic-related changes had created a “two-year delay between potential new hires of lifeguards and current staff.”