A national shortage of lifeguards has pushed the Town of Parry Sound to pursue an in-house solution to the issue.
The town has launched the Zero to Hero program to fill its summer aquatics job postings. Jayme Young, the town’s Community Recreation Coordinator says when trying to promote those jobs, town officials found they were not getting the applicants they normally get.
“We think that’s because folks are just not qualified to be lifeguards. So Zero to Hero was born as a sort of solution to that. The Zero to Hero program is eight days over the month of June, all evenings, weekends and one Near North District School Board PA day,” she says.
“Really our goal here is to create a homegrown team of Lifeguards from Parry Sound. We’re looking for leaders in our community, in their peer groups, in sports, and really anybody that wants to come out and join us for the summer,” Young says.
She says the program will accept anyone 16 years or older with any swimming ability. Young says completing the program qualifies you to work as a lifeguard anywhere across the country, assuming you pass all tests.
Young adds the town is offering a financial incentive program because the cost of the Zero to Hero program is a bit expensive. “So it’s $450 to take the program and the town is saying if you enrol in the program, pass, and then accepted an employment offer from the town of Parry Sound and remain employed for this summer the town will refund 50 per cent of the program cost. So that’s the $225 at the end of the program that will be refunded,” she says.
Young adds the town will also be interested in interviewing anyone simply registered for the program for jobs. “So you don’t have to wait until you pass the Zero to Hero program to apply for a job. In fact, we encourage you not to. We’d love to have those interviews ahead of time and be able to potentially offer roles at Wabauno Beach with the condition that you’ll finish the Zero to Hero program before the summer begins,” she says.
According to Young, the program runs at two locations with indoor sessions at the Bobby Orr Community Centre and practical sessions at Waubuno Beach. Sessions are on the following days;
- Friday, June 9 from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
- Saturday, June 10 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Sunday, June 11 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Monday, June 12 (NNDSB PD Day) from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Friday, June 16 from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
- Saturday, June 17 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Sunday, June 18 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Sunday, June 25 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Young says the town is hoping for at least eight people to register to be able to run the program properly. She says that’s because the program is very scenario based. “In taking the course they’re going to have mock examples of people drowning or hitting their head or having a broken arm, so the number of participants is relevant because they have to have enough people to act out the scenario,” Young says.
You can register at the Town Office or online by clicking here.