Lifeguard Job Opportunities and Hiring Procedures

Training and Courses

Lifeguard Training Continuum

Lifeguard School 2012 starts January 10 and takes place at the Vancouver Aquatic Centre. For further information, please review the pamphlets below or phone 604-665-3421.

• Lifeguard Brochure 2012 
• Lifeguard Certification Schedule 2012 
• Recertification Schedule 2012 
• Guard School Schedule, Exams & Orientations 2012 
• High School Credits

Indoor Lifeguards

Regular Full-Time, Regular Part-Time and Temporary Full-Time over six months Indoor Lifeguard positions (Pool Attendant, Swim Instructor Attendant) are posted at City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Y 1V4. Phone: 604-873-7011.
Or check Jobs at www.vancouver.ca/jobs

For on-call work, please contact central hiring at the Vancouver Aquatic Centre at 1050 Beach Avenue. Out of town applicants will not be accepted until the person arrives in town. Applicants will be expected to have current Canadian qualifications as well as clearing references and a criminal record check.

Applicants will be expected to work at any of the nine (9) indoor Park Board pools in the city.

All prospective lifeguards both indoor and outdoor are required to be physically fit with normal hearing and good vision and will be required to submit to a criminal records check.

Outdoor Lifeguards

Normally, 36 full-time lifeguards are employed during the summer. As well, more than 150 part-time lifeguards are hired with a good percentage of these working steadily throughout the season. The amount of work for those on-call is mainly determined by weather and beach patronage.

Under current union contract arrangements, 23 lifeguards are hired commencing on Victoria Day in May and an additional 13 lifeguards are hired during July and August. The balance of the lifeguards hired are on a daily on-call basis. The 36 full-time lifeguards are hired according to knowledge, skills, ability, past performance, exam results and availability. The balance are hired similarly. New employees are also hired on exam results, performance at practices and attendance at Lifeguard School. As well, positive employer references and a clean criminal record check are mandatory.

Lifeguard School candidates get priority consideration when hiring new employees.

Lifeguard training and lifeguard school information is posted elsewhere on this website. All lifeguards employed must hold current National Lifeguard certification, current C.P.R. Basic Rescuer certification and a recognized First Aid certificate (i.e. Aquatic Emergency Care, Standard First Aid or Occupational First Aid). Only Canadian qualifications are accepted. All employees must have both NLS Pool and Waterfront options (offered in June) to be hired.

In-town prospective employees are encouraged to join Lifeguard School which runs January-April at the Vancouver Aquatic Centre. Telephone 604-665-3424. Other prospective employees are asked to contact our Beach and Pool Department after June 1st.

Headquarters for the Vancouver Beach and Pool Department is located in the Kitsilano Beach Service Building, 1305 Arbutus Street, from May 15th to September 15th each year. Enquiries as to exam results and employment opportunities for returning staff should be directed to this office after May 1st each year. Telephone: 604-738-8535. Winter enquiries phone Glenn Schultz: 604-665-3418; Fax: 604-665-3455.

Email to: Glenn Schultz (year-round)

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