Swim Instructor Shortage Threatens Summer Programs

By Jeff Green

It was one of the unexpected impacts from COVID, the sudden lack of swim instructors for annual swim programs.

Up until 2019, swimmers who stuck with swim programs into their teens had the option of training and getting tested as lifeguards and swim instructors, providing a steady supply of new instructors as existing instructors moved away to college and university.

When classes were cancelled for two years in 2020 and 2021, that cycle was broken.

“The instructors we had in 2019 are three years older, and with university ending in April and our classes running in July and August, they aren’t coming back,” said Tim Laprade, Recreation and Facilities Manager for South Frontenac. “We are not alone in this. Other swim programs are having the same problem.”

South Frontenac is pleased to have been able to find lifeguards for their very popular summer camp programs, but they are scrambling to find swim instructors, in order to run a program for 8 weeks this summer.

“We used to require that instructors were enrolled in school in the fall, but we have waived that, and we also have bursary money available to help with the cost of certification, and a signing bonus as well. We really don’t want swim classes to be cancelled two years in a row,” he said.

Anyone interested in being an instructor this summer can call or email Tim Laprade at 613-279-3027 ext. 2231, or tlaprade@ southfrontenac.net ■