The Nova Scotia Lifesaving Society (NSLS) oversees the hiring of lifeguards at Nova Scotia’s public beaches and they are struggling to find people to fill the positions.
NSLS Director Paul D’Eon says the primary cause of the shortage is the pandemic, which left most pools closed for the last two years. “The teenagers who would have been in lifeguard certification classes or Bronze Medalion programs couldn’t do that because pools and programs were shut down,” D’Eon said.
As it stands D’Eon says they are still searching for about 5-6 more lifeguards, without which some beaches will go unsupervised.
The beaches in need of guards still include; Rissers, Aylesford Lake, Port Hood, Clam Harbour and Martinique.
Another factor playing a role in the shortage is the rising cost of living, with rent and gas both on the rise. “We have a program to help offset gas prices, and we are doing what we can to make these jobs appealing,” D’Eon said.
Lifeguards employed by NSLS at public beaches work 40 hours per week and make between $14.79 to $16.91 per hour.
The NSLS has gotten to the point where they will now accept lifeguards who only have pool certifications, and then train them for open water situations as part of the job.
In his 48 years in his role, D’Eon says this is the first time he remembers still needing as many as five lifeguards by late May.
