Jade and Sabrina Verville love the water and helping others.
That’s why the Orillia sisters opted to be among the first to complete a new course offered by the city that’s designed to fast-track those interested in becoming certified lifeguards and swim instructors with potential future work at the city’s soon-to-open recreation centre.
“It was a very intense course,” said Jade, 16, who’s in Grade 10.
“We were always on the go. I liked pretty much everything about it. We grew up on the water (and) love helping the community.”
The sisters were two of 11 registrants in the city’s all-in-one program that allows participants to obtain six swim awards: Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, standard first aid with CPR, national lifeguard, swim instructor and lifesaving instructor.
The program ran over a two-month period at the Orillia YMCA with instruction given on Friday nights and Saturdays.
“I think the condensed class was great,” said Sabrina, 17, who’s in Grade 12 and plans to begin training soon to become a pilot.
“It was also really nice getting to know the other people in the course. There were people from all ages.”
The sisters, who moved to Orillia from Montreal six years ago, are completing their high school courses online since they’re very active in other sports, including work as ski instructors at Horseshoe Resort during the winter months.
They’re also hoping to eventually land jobs at the city’s recreation centre and, perhaps, at Tudhope Park’s Splash On Water Park with an eye to helping others with Jade pointing out that lifeguards are actually the first on any scene before other primary responders such as paramedics and firefighters.
“An ambulance has information on what’s happening as they’re driving to scene,” she said, adding lifeguards must react quickly without knowing what might be wrong with an individual, whether it be a heart attack, stroke or inexperience in the water.
“We don’t have that (information). We have to look at the signs to see what’s happened.”
Jack Mair, the city’s aquatics and fitness supervisor, said although the streamlined course takes the same number of hours, it allows for a quicker completion date.
“Some people could take as much as a year and a half to complete it,” Mair said. “This is kind of an opportunity for us to fast-track those interested in life-guarding.”
Mair said many of those certified could eventually find work at the new recreation centre since nearly 70 lifeguards are slated to be hired to help run programs and supervise swimmers.
Mair said that since the all-in-one program was so successful, they’re planning to run it again this summer with similar opportunities planned in the future.
The summer course runs July 2 to Aug. 23 at Couchiching Beach Park, costing $370 for residents with non-residents paying $460. Participants must be at least 16 years old and able to swim 100 metres.
There are also options available for those as young as age 10 through Orillia's Aquatic Leadership and first aid/CPR courses and training programs.
For more information, visit orillia.ca/en/living-here/life-guard-recruitment.aspx.
