Beach season begins with Lifeguard shortage across Nova Scotia
Lifeguards who work for the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service (NSLS) and Halifax Regional Municipality are set to report for duty on Friday, July 1.
“We’re very glad to have the lifeguard service, especially when the beach gets really busy in the summer,” says Beth Taylor.
She says she plans to bring her family to Birch Cove Beach in Dartmouth, several times a week.
This peace of mind for parents — has been a human resources headache.
Paul D'Eon has been with the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service for 48 years — he says this has been one of the most challenging on record for hiring.
“During the past two years with COVID-19, all the pools around Nova Scotia did not conduct training, so that usual 15 and 16-year-old cohort is not there. Plus, the older guards have moved on, so the combination of those things has reduced our numbers of available lifeguards,” says D’Eon.
One popular spot impacted is Clam Harbour Beach, famous for its sandcastle competition every August. D’Eon says the earliest lifeguards could be on duty is mid-July, due to staff shortages and supply chain issues.
“We are in the process of getting a new storage shed built there, and it’s not going to be available immediately,” says D’Eon.
With no guards on duty at Clam Harbour beach, some are choosing to frequent supervised beaches or lake beaches.
“With the ocean beaches, I think it’s extremely important to have lifeguards because it doesn’t matter how good a swimmer you are. You can get caught in a current easily,” says Cavell Hudson of Dartmouth.
Numbers show that lifeguards on duty make a difference.
According to the NSLS, in 2021, more than 300,000 people visited Nova Scotia beaches and lifeguards made more than 100 life-saving rescues. Since the service began 50 years ago, its lifeguards have supervised nearly 20 million people and have made nearly 5000 rescues.
D’Eon says, other than Clam Harbour, all beaches are now staffed. In fact, some beaches, including Inverness Beach, will have additional staff added this year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
NEW 'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Canadian couple among tourists on sinking sailing boat tour abroad
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.