The Lifesaving Society is closely monitoring the public health and safety risks associated with Covid-19.
Guidance for Recreational Water Facilities
- by Zone
The five documents below help guide operators on aquatic protocols to follow in Ontario's colour-coded system. They were developed through research involving current Covid-19 regulations and Lifesaving Society standards.
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Information Bulletins and Guides
Time out – COVID hits aquatics webinar recordings
The Society hosts webinars on topics related to the safe management of public pools. Registration is limited, so register early.
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Webinars are recorded and links are posted below as they are completed.
2021 Webinar Dates and Topics
February 10 - Reopening Guidance through a Maintenance and Operational Lens - A look ahead to the safe and gradual reopening (again) of aquatic facilities in Ontario with two expert panelists – Scott Bowron (Owner, Clear Aquatics) and Jamie Lopes (Senior Project Manager, Aquatic Design and Engineering).
A wide variety of topics will be covered, whether your aquatic venues are full and filtering or drained.
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Presenters will discuss best practices and considerations for gradual reopening including the impacts of extended closure from the bottom up including drains, seals, gaskets, pumps, filters and tiles. They will also address aquatic amenities such as spas, waterslides, splash pads and include their tips for developing a reopening checklist. View recording
2020 Webinar dates and Topics
April 29 - Programming with COVID, staff training, reopening after COVID with panelists Gary Sanger, Perry Smith and Michael Shane. View recording
May 5 - How medicine influences aquatic operations during the COVID pandemic with Dr. Steve Beerman. View recording
May 13 - Legal aspects of reopening after COVID and public education responsibilities in these times with panelists Stas Bodrov (Lifesaving Society Legal Advisor) and Barbara Byers (Lifesaving Society Public Education Director). View recording
May 20 - COVID and Learn to Swim with Swim Program Chair Lisa Brandie and Program Manager Sindy Parsons. View recording
May 27 - COVID Question and Answer with VP Training Programs Patrick King, VP Safety Standards Gary Sanger and VP Leadership Kerry Wakefield. View recording
June 3 - COVID and National Lifeguard and First Aid with First Aid Chair Rebecca Boyd and National Lifeguard Chair Carolyn Tyner. View recording
June 10 - COVID and Bronze and Standards with Bronze Medal Awards Chair Jason Jolicoeur and VP Safety Standards Gary Sanger. View recording
June 17 - COVID and the National Safety Standards Commission with Lifesaving Society Safety Standards Commissioner Eric Hervieux, Past Commissioner Patrick D’Almada and Lifesaving Society Canada Director of Operations Wendy Schultenkamper, CAE. View recording
June 24 - COVID and PPE with Lifesaving Society Business Development Director Renata Jaciw-Zurakowsky and Program Director Perry Smith. View recording
July 8 - Delivery of Online and Blended Learning with Heather Morris Stokes and Carolyn Tyner, along with and a general Q&A session with Perry Smith and Gary Sanger. View Recording
July 22 - COVID and Straight Talk - hear from experienced supervisory staff about their experiences and recommendations with Lynn Loubert (Division Manager Aquatics & Arenas, Parks and Recreation, City of London) and Cynthia Cakebread (Manager, Recreation & Culture, Town of Essex). View recording
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August 19 - COVID and Contactless Training - NEW Guide to Training - hear from Leadership Chair Katie Short, Leadership Chair Adam Eastman and Shendy's Swim School Director Rob McLaren about developments in contactless training and online resources including the NEW Lifesaving Society Guide to Training During COVID-19: In-Person Training Safety for Affiliates, Trainers, Instructors, Examiners and Coaches (link below). View recording
October 21 - Where are we now? - Life with COVID-19 continues to evolve, as do standards, and operators in Ontario are at different stages of opening. This webinar focuses on discussions with three such operators, each in a different stage of reopening. Find out what they did, what they're going to do and what they're planning for the future. Shifts in operational standards will also be discussed. View recording
November 25 - National Perspective - This webinar will examine how COVID has shaped aquatic operations across Canada and how each region has developed strategies to modify their operations to deal with the pandemic. Panelists from Nova Scotia, Manitoba and British Columbia will outline the scope of the problem and how they have adapted their operations. View recording
December 16 - Mental Health - Navigating the COVID-19 pandemic can be stressful, evoking strong emotions related to fear and anxiety about financial uncertainty and underemployment; concern for our health and the health of our loved ones; the burden of care for children and elderly parents; the challenges of remote education; and isolation and loneliness resulting from social distancing.
This webinar focuses on using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques to manage stress, uncertainty and the anxiety that arises in these difficult times. Our panelist is Mr. Chris Rodrigues, a Counsellor with the City of Toronto Fire Department and Employee Assistance Program. View recording