Swim Transition

During 2022, the Canadian Red Cross wound down its swim and lifeguarding programming to focus on surging humanitarian demands in other areas – such as disaster and pandemic response, opioid harm reduction and caregiving for seniors.

At the same time, Red Cross encouraged and supported its water safety training partners in making the transition to the swimming, lifeguarding and aquatic leadership programs of the Lifesaving Society Canada. Both Societies worked to make the transition opportunity as smooth as possible.

Swim transition pathways for Red Cross-certified individuals

For 2022, the Lifesaving Society and Canadian Red Cross created special pathways by which Red Cross certification holders transition to corresponding Lifesaving Society certifications. These pathways recognize and acknowledge the competencies earned in Red Cross certifications while providing the knowledge and resources critical for success as a Lifesaving Society instructor, lifeguard or trainer.

The opportunity to attain Lifesaving Society certifications via these transition pathways, originally scheduled to end December 31, 2022, has been extended to June 30, 2023.

The official Swim Transition Instructor Clinic approved by the Lifesaving Society Canada and endorsed by the Canadian Red Cross is online at e-lifesaving.ca.

Transfer of Red Cross certification data

CRC members can transfer their CRC certification to the Lifesaving Society electronically via e-lifesaving.ca/transition.

This is beneficial for:

  • CRC members whose awards were not included in the migration direct from CRC, or
  • Anyone who decided not to use the CRC migration tool to transfer their records.

The following information is required to transfer certification(s):

  • Individual details and contact information
  • Certification details
  • Provincial branch of the Lifesaving Society to which certifications will be transferred
  • A photo or scan of the certification ready to upload

Once the provincial branch receives and verifies the information, it will add or update the individual’s Lifesaving Society record.

For those CRC members who are also Lifesaving Society members, there is an optional section to add a Lifesaving Society Member ID and/or Web Access Code – these details help to verify the submission more quickly and accurately.

Contact

Lifesaving Society Program Manager by phone 416.490.8844 or by email: swimtransition@lifeguarding.com

Canadian Red Cross (CRC) members can now transfer their CRC certification to the Lifesaving Society electronically via e-lifesaving.ca/transition.

This is beneficial for:

  • CRC members whose awards were not included in the migration direct from CRC, or
  • Anyone who decided not to use the CRC migration tool to transfer their records.

The following information is required to transfer certification(s):

  • The details (type, date, expiration) of the individual for each certification, and
  • A photo or scan ready to upload to the applicable provincial Lifesaving Society branch.

Once the provincial branch receives and verifies the information, it will add or update the individual’s Lifesaving Society record.

For those CRC members who are also Lifesaving Society members, there is an optional section to add a Lifesaving Society Member ID and/or Web Access Code – these details help to verify the submission more quickly and accurately.