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NEW! All High School Students: Complete Lifeguard: This program includes all certifications to be a Lifeguard/Swim Instructor and one high school credit: Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, Standard First with CPR-C, National Lifeguard Pool, Lifesaving Society Swim and Lifesaving Instructors and Credit #PAQ3O. You can be a student of any High School, Public or Catholic, but you must be at 15 years of age by July 11, 2025. This course will be run at both the Orillia Recreation Centre and Couchiching Beach to diversify the student's skills, knowledge and judgement.
Click here for more information.
Aquatic Leadership Lending Library: The City of Orillia and the Orillia Public Library have joined forces to introduce the Aquatic Leadership Lending Library, aimed at providing loaned aquatic leadership manuals. To avail of this opportunity, simply bring your manual with you on the first day of your class, and you will receive a discount on the course you are participating in. Click here to reserve your manuals today!
Steps to becoming a lifeguard and swim instructor
The City of Orillia offers Aquatic Leadership courses year-round:
| Swimmer 10 (Bronze Star) |
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This course is in preparation for Bronze Medallion, emphasizing swimming skills and lifesaving fitness. Participants develop problem-solving and decision-making skills individually and with partners and learn how to take charge in an emergency. Bronze Star is the prerequisite to Bronze Medallion (if swimmer is not 13 years old.) |
| Swimmer 11 (Bronze Medallion & Emergency First Aid) |
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Your lifesaving career starts here with the first class in the Lifesaving Society's Leadership Program. This course develops a timed swim fitness component and introduces decision making and judgment skills. It also teaches responses to complex water rescue situations. The First Aid and CPR component covers a general knowledge of First Aid principles and emergency treatment of injuries. Skills to be learned will include victim assessment, resuscitation skills, CPR, choking and what to do for internal bleeding, heart attack and stroke. Prerequisite: 13 years or Bronze Star. All you pay for is the material and certification fee! |
| Swimmer 12 (Bronze Cross & Standard First Aid) |
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This award further develops lifesaving training and the principles of lifeguarding including rescues of increased difficulty. Bronze Cross is a prerequisite for the National Lifeguard Award. Prerequisites: Bronze Medallion and Emergency First Aid. |
| LSS Assistant Instructor |
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Through classroom learning and in-water practice, this course prepares candidates to assist a certified instructor with swimming and lifesaving classes. Pre-requisites: Bronze Cross or higher and 14 years of age. |
| National Lifeguard Pool |
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National Lifeguard certification builds on the fundamental skills, knowledge, and values of the Lifesaving Society to develop the practical skills and knowledge required by lifeguards. Strong leadership, communication, decision making, and judgment skills are vital. Unsuccessful candidates are required to take the entire course again. Pre-requisites: 15 yrs, Bronze Cross and Standard First Aid with CPR-C *PLEASE NOTE: The Lifesaving Society only accepts Standard First Aid certificates that are recognized by the government of Ontario. |
| LSS Swim & Lifesaving Instructor |
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Through classroom learning and in-water practice, the Lifesaving Society Swim Instructor and Lifesaving Instructor course certifies candidates to teach LSS Swim Programs and up to the Bronze Cross Award. Practical teaching scenarios will be incorporated and emphasized. Pre-requisites: 15 years of age and Bronze Cross (or higher), LSS Assistant Instructor recommended. |
| Lifesaving Sport Coach Level 1 |
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Provides training for Lifesaving Instructors who wish to coach Lifesaving Sport at the community level. The course focuses on the fundamentals of coaching and Lifesaving Sport skills in the pool or in open water. Prerequisite: Lifesaving Instructor |
Advanced Aquatic Leadership
| Aquatic Supervisor |
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The Lifesaving Society training standard for instructors and lifeguards who wish to assume deck-level supervisor responsibilities for overseeing instructional and recreational programs and day-to-day operations at aquatic facilities. Aquatic Supervisor introduces participants to the knowledge, skills and tools require to effectively guide fellow staff members in the safe delivery of aquatic programs and services, and to prepare for effective emergency response. Prerequisite: Lifesaving Society Swim Instructor or Lifesaving Instructor and National Lifeguard certifications. |
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Examiners Course |
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The Examiner course is the first step in the three-step process to become certified as an Examiner for the Lifesaving Society 1. Course – Successfully complete an Examiner course. 2. Apprenticeship – Successfully apprentice under the supervision of an Examiner Mentor on one exam in the stream(s) in which they are seeking certification as an examiner. 3. Certification – Submit the completed Examiner Training Record and the certification fee to the Society. |
| First Aid Instructor |
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The Lifesaving Society's First Aid Instructor course is designed to provide Lifesaving Instructors with the knowledge and resources required to organize, plan, and deliver Lifesaving Society First Aid awards up to and including Standard First Aid and CPR-A, -B, -C. Current Standard First Aid Instructors may teach and certify:
Prerequisite: Minimum 16 years of age, Lifesaving Society Standard First Aid, or Standard First Aid from a training agency approved by the Ontario government. The list of approved agencies can be found at lifesavingsociety.com. |
| National Lifeguard Instructor |
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The National Lifeguard Instructor course provides candidates with an understanding of the principles and practices on which the National Lifeguard program is based and explores teaching approaches and techniques appropriate for National Lifeguard candidates. Prerequisite: National Lifeguard (any option), Lifesaving Instructor. Recommended: Bronze Examiner, experience lifeguarding. |
| Trainer Course |
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The Trainer course is the first step in the three-step process to become appointed as a Trainer for the Lifesaving Society. The course provides candidates with an understanding of the expectations and requirements to teach instructors and prepares participants to apprentice successfully as a Trainer on the Instructor course(s) of their choice. Trainers are experienced Instructors, Coaches, or Examiners who undergo specific training in teaching instructors. Trainer candidates must have teaching experience: they must have taught or co-taught at least one course in the stream(s) in which they are seeking appointment as a Trainer. |
Frequently Asked Questions
| How old do I have to be to lifeguard? |
| To be a certified lifeguard or swim instructor you must be 15 years of age but you could start your training as young as 12 years. The City of Orillia starts hiring Assistant Lifeguard/Instructors at 14 years. |
| Where do these courses take place? |
| At our new Orillia Recreation Centre. In the summer, courses also run at Couchiching Beach. |
| What is included in my course costs? |
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All manuals and certification fees are included in the cost of the course. Manuals can be borrowed for the Orillia Public Library to receive a discount on the course cost. More information available during course registration. |
| What should I bring to my course? |
| Bathing suit and towel (you may want two of each), comfortable clothing, whistle, notebook, paper, pen, pencil, lunch, dinner, snacks, proof of age, pre-requisite certifications and all manuals used in previous courses. Recommended equipment: wetsuit and sun protection (if the course is outside), waterproof watch, disposable gloves and mask. |
| Do my pre-requisites need to be current? |
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Pre-requisites do not need to be current. However they must be obtained in the correct order prior to the last day of the course and/or exam. If a pre-requisite is expired more than 10 years, it is recommended to retake the full course. Standard First Aid must be from a training agency approved by the Ontario government. The list of approved agencies can be found at lifesavingsociety.com.
Standard First Aid recertification requirements:
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| How do I check my pre-requisites? |
| Please visit the Lifesaving Society website and enter your Lifesaving Society ID number located on the bottom of any of your certification cards. |
| What if I have to miss a class? |
| Attendance is 100% mandatory in order to pass all courses. |
| What can I do if I have failed my Bronze Medallion or Bronze Cross? |
| Any candidate who has failed the Bronze Medallion or Bronze Cross course can retake the exam by registering to a challenge. A challenge is an examination for which candidates do not need to have previously followed the course, and during which each course item is assessed. Candidates who have failed a bronze level course can participate in a challenge in order to try successfully completing the examination. |
| What can I do if I want to work as a lifeguard and my National Lifeguard award has expired? |
| Any expired National Lifeguard award, no matter its expiration date, can be re-certified at any time in a National Lifeguard re-certification; however, it is recommended after five years to redo the full course. |
| What can I do if I have failed a re-certification? |
| Candidates who fail their award re-certification must work on the items they missed and make sure they have acquired the lacking skills or knowledge before participating to a second re-certification. |
| Course description says I have to be at least 14 years. My birthday is during the course; can I still enroll? |
| Yes, you can take the course. Candidates must turn the identified age prior to the last scheduled day of the course. |
| My certification was earned outside of Ontario. What should I do? |
| You must hold a certification recognized by the Ontario Health Regulations in order to lifeguard in Ontario. Apply to the Lifesaving Society for your out of country awards' equivalency. Call 416-490-8844 for information. |
