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Facility/Location: Meadowvale Community Center, City of Mississauga.

Potential to be applied to all facilities with aquatic units.
What is the current situation?
Due to a conflict of interest, the City of Mississauga removed lifeguards privilege to use the
facilities in where they work. Lifeguards have many roles where they work including
enforcement of standards and health regulations, and to perform rescues. Like other public safety
professions, lifeguards are expected to maintain a high level of health and fitness with patrons
relying on them to be able to perform when necessary. Without the use of a facility, it is difficult
for lifeguards to maintain this high level of performance.
Lifeguards have to perform a number of standards to attain their NLS, and then have to maintain
a subset to keep their certification. City of Mississauga lifeguards are further tested on their
abilities to perform and maintain standards four times a year at staff trainings. These standards
include recovering an object in a specified time, a head up sprint challenge, an endurance swim
challenge, and the management of a drowning, submerged, and spinal victim. These standards
while assessed at the municipality level, are mandated on a national level. Lifeguards are
expected to be quick in their rescue and strong enough to not only hold themselves at the surface
but manage their victim as well. This is done through practice and training within the facilities.
Solution/idea being recommended:
The solution proposed is to restore privileges to the City of Mississauga Aquatics Unit allowing
for use of the pool at place of work. This will allow for proper training of lifeguards and remain
in rescue shape and in proper fitness. Attached is a list of municipalities and their current
regulations surrounding aquatics units and their use of facilities.
Who has this been discussed with, if anyone?
LIST NAMES HERE
Submitted by:
Lauren Zilinski, Deck Supervisor

Date:
December 21st, 2013

Municipality
Ajax
Aurora

Do you let your lifeguard staff swims for free?

Yes
Yes, fitness and Leisure Swims are available to all staff at no charge.
Please note that this courtesy does not extend to family or friends. As a
staff member of the Town of Aurora, there is no charge for you to use either
the Aurora Family Leisure Complex Pool or the Stronach Aurora
Recreation Complex pool. However, there are some stipulations that are
required.
However, any staff looking to access the pool outside of the public times
MUST have explicit permission from the Aquatic Supervisor. Any time the
pool is in use by any of our staff members, there MUST be 2 staff
lifeguards present and on duty, responsible for the direct supervision of the
participants. The number of lifeguards needed to supervise staff is
regulated as per Ontarios Public Pools Regulations Section 17, page 37.
(Reference regulation 565, s 17)

Bradford West Gwillimbury

Brampton
Brock University

Burlington
Guelph
Halton Hills
Hamilton
London
Markham
Milton

Oakville
Orangeville
Oshawa
Richmond Hill

Saugeen Shores

In order to support a healthy lifestyle, fitness memberships are available to

all part-time other than continuous staff at a discounted rated of 25%.
Yes, aquatic staff may attend any scheduled lane or leisure swim FREE of
charge. Staff receive a 20% discount on fitness memberships.
Yes
Yes, at Brock University our aquatic staff can use the pool at no charge.
They can use it for training purposes or come in for a recreational swim.
Brock students can now use the Zone (fitness centre) with no additional fees
and if our staff are not Brock students they pay price.
Yes, encouraged for all city staff + nonaquatic to swim for free
Yes
Yes = healthy staff = productive staff
Yes, but only their Home facility.
Yes, current staff are allowed to swim to maintain fitness and physical
standards. There is no charge
Yes, for all public swims
Yes, staff swim for free for length swims only, if they want to use the
fitness centre they must purchase a membership, which they do get a
discount.
Yes
Yes
No, staff get 50% discount on swim/skate membership
Yes, Richmond Hill allows free access to all Aquatic drop in programs from
aqua fitness/Lane/leisure and wave swims. Must be a current staff on a
phone list to gain access. Swimming outside of public drop in times is
restricted to staff only and follows Auroras policy but is not as nicely
written. Gym memberships with the town are discounted by 25%
Yes, absolutely they are allowed to swim for free In fact they are
encouraged to swim with our masters (more time available and coached) for
free. In order to their job properly they must be active and swim regularly.
*Toronto took away the privilege about a year ago and they are struggling
to get their staff recerted to the new standards. They may be in a situation
where they cant staff their pools because their staff cant meet the

Toronto

Vaughan

Wayne Gretzky Sports

Centre
Whitchurch-Stouffville

Windsor

requirements.
*Also note the situations that have actually happened where the lifeguard
had to attempt 3 times to pick a victim off the bottom of the pool Not a
great time to be finding out they did not have the physical capacity to assist
in an emergency.
Staff Swimming When Pool is Empty
Staff may swim if there is another staff willing to solely guard during their
unpaid break with all necessary safety equipment.
CRPs and/or PICs must document which staff is swimming and which staff
person is the designated guard.
Staff are not to be paid for guarding other staff swimming.
The staff solely guarding must be in proper guarding position.
Staff Swimming During Off-Deck Rotations
Staff wishing to enter the water on a "off-deck rotation" are required to
obtain approval from their respective In-Charge staff.
Staff Swimming During Lane or Leisure swims
Staff have to pay the fee associated with the respective swim
Yes current city of Vaughan staff are able to access the pool during regular
scheduled times at no cost. This practice is encouraged and documented in
our staff manual. It's an attempt to ensure that staff remain active and
continue to develop their swimming and aquatic skills.
Yes, our staff have free access to all areas in our facility , pool, fitness and
arena
Yes, we encourage our aquatic staff to maintain their fitness level. They do
not have to pay to swim during lane swim or leisure swim, under the
conditions that they are not working and they are not causing disruption to
the swim. If they wish to get a fitness membership, they receive a 20%
discount.
Yes, we encourage our staff to swim laps (FREE), but if the pool is busy we
tell staff that they are to allow the paying customer the lane spot. In regards
to the fitness rooms as well same idea, if it becomes busy they are to not
hog the equipment and maybe help out if possible. Its sort of a perk for
staff so we use them as good will ambassadors sort of.

Employer Benefit vs Employee requirement.

Evidence recorded that lifeguards provide additional first aid and response to incidents that
occur while swimming in the pool.