The Guelph Y offers a wide range of advanced aquatic leadership courses to advance youth in our community. Our comprehensive and hands-on courses give individuals the proper tools and training required to advance their abilities to effectively prevent and respond to water emergencies as they actively work towards their goal of becoming a lifeguard.
How to become a lifeguard
At the Guelph Y, we want all youth striving to become a lifeguard to experience a seamless process while they move from course to course. Through this process, youth are able to volunteer with us and directly with our staff to help others in our community swim safely. The chart below illustrates the steps in which youth must take in order to receive the credentials that are required.
Click here for a printable version of this chart.
Please see our course offerings below:
Want more course options? Check out course offerings at our other Health and Wellness locations in Waterloo Region and Stratford.
Bronze Star |
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Description: Bronze Star is excellent preparation for success in Bronze Medallion. Participants develop problem-solving and decision-making skills individually and in partners. Candidates learn CPR and develop the lifesaving skills needed to be their own lifeguard. Includes a timed 400 m swim. Prerequisite: None! It is recommended participants have swimming experience.
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Bronze Medallion with Emergency First Aid |
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Description: This program teaches an understanding of the lifesaving principles and the four components of water-rescue education; judgment, knowledge, skill and fitness. Rescuers learn tows and carries, defense methods and releases in preparation for rescues of increased risk involving conscious and unconscious victims. Lifesavers develop stroke efficiency and endurance in a 400m timed swim. Bronze Medallion includes Emergency First Aid with CPR-B. Pre-Requisites: Bronze Star (need not be current) or 13 years of age.
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Bronze Cross |
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Description: Bronze Cross is designed for lifesavers who want the challenge of more advanced training including an introduction to safe supervision in aquatic facilities. Bronze Cross is a prerequisite for all advanced training programs including National Lifeguard and Instructor certification. Includes a timed 400m swim. Pre-Requisites: Bronze Medallion (need not be current) and Emergency First Aid with CPR-B (need not be current) Required Reference Materials: Canadian Lifesaving Manual (available for purchase if needed)
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National Lifeguard & Recertification |
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Description: National Lifeguard training builds on fundamental skills, knowledge and values taught in previous lifesaving awards to develop the practical skills and knowledge required by lifeguards. Recognized as the standard measurement of lifeguard performance in Canada, National Life guard education is designed to develop a sound understanding of life guarding principles, good judgment and a mature and responsible attitude toward the role of the lifeguard. The National Lifeguard's primary role is the prevention of emergency situations and where this fails, the timely and effective resolution of emergencies. The National Lifeguard program is designed to prepare lifeguards to fulfill this role as professional facilitators of safe, enjoyable aquatics. The National Lifeguard course cannot in theory or practice prepare candidates for every situation which might be encountered by NLS guards working in Canadian aquatic environments and facilities. National Lifeguard training is designed to develop the basic life guarding skills, principles and decision-making processes which will assist the lifeguard to evaluate and adapt to different aquatic facilities and emergencies. Pre-Requisites: Bronze Cross (need not be current), Standard First Aid with CPR-C (need not be current), 15 years of age. Required Reference Materials: Alert! Lifeguarding In Action Manual (included in course fee)
RecertificationThis course is for individuals who have already achieved the National Lifeguard certification (need not be current and are looking to recertify their award.
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Lifesaving Society Swim for Life Instructor |
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Description: The Lifesaving Society Swim Instructor course prepares the instructor to teach and evaluate the swimming strokes and related skills found in the Lifesaving Society Swim for Life program. Candidates acquire proven teaching methods, planning skills, and a variety of stroke development drills and correction techniques. Prerequisites: 15 years of age by the end of the course; Bronze Cross certification (need not be current). Do you have the prerequisites to take this course?
Required references: Swim Instructor Pack (included in course fee, includes Instructor Manual, Swim for Life Award Guide, Teaching Swim for Life and Leadership Binder).
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Lifesaving Society Lifesaving and Emergency First Aid Instructor |
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Description: The Lifesaving Instructor course prepares instructors to teach the Lifesaving Society's:
Prerequisites: 15 years of age by the end of the course; Bronze Cross certification (need not be current). Do you have the prerequisites to take this course?
Required references: Lifesaving Instructor Pack (included in course fee, includes Instructor Manual, Swim Patrol Award Guide, Bronze Medals Award Guide, First Aid Award Guide, Leadership Binder), Canadian Lifesaving Manual (available for purchase).
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National Lifeguard Instructor |
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Description: The National Lifeguard Instructor course provides candidates with an understanding of the principles and practices on which the National Lifeguard program is based. The course explores teaching approaches and techniques appropriate for National Lifeguard candidates. After successful completion of the course, National Lifeguard Instructors are certified to teach the National Lifeguard course in the option(s) they hold (i.e., National Lifeguard Instructors who hold National Lifeguard Pool may teach National Lifeguard Pool, etc.). Prerequisites: National Lifeguard (any option) and Lifesaving Instructor certifications (need not be current). Do you have the prerequisites to take this course?
Required references: Alert: lifeguarding in action (available for purchase), National Lifeguard Award Guide (included in course fee).
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Standard First Aid with CPR-C |
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Description: Learn to deal with injuries and medical emergencies at home, work, or play. Standard First Aid provides comprehensive training covering all aspects of first aid and CPR. Standard First Aid incorporates all of Emergency First Aid and is designed for those who require a more in-depth understanding of first aid. This program includes legal implications of first aid treatment, spinal injuries, heat and cold injuries, bone and joint injuries, abdominal and chest injuries, burns, and medical emergencies. CPR-C covers all aspects of CPR skills and theory for adults, children, and infants. CPR-C certification is included in Standard First Aid. The Lifesaving Society Standard First Aid Certification is recognized by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. Pre-Requisite: None Required Reference Materials: Canadian First Aid Manual (available for purchase if needed)
Standard First Aid with CPR-C Recertification
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If you have any questions about our offerings and availability please contact Member Services directly with the information provided below. For questions regarding courses relating to becoming a lifeguard and requirements, please contact Michelle Goodman, Supervisor of Aquatics, with the information provided below.
Contact Us
Supervisor, Aquatics
130 Woodland Glen Drive
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 4M3
F.: 519-824-4729