Aquatic Certifications
Open the door to employment and volunteer possibilities through our YMCA Aquatic Certifications programs. Certification as a lifeguard or swimming instructor can lead to employment opportunities at the YMCA and elsewhere. You’ll also develop leadership skills that can have a profound impact on your future success.
Please call 857-0606 to put your name on an interest list to be contacted for the next session.
Bronze Star Bronze Star (10 hr.): develops swimming proficiency, lifesaving skill and personal fitness. Candidates refine their stroke mechanics, acquire self-rescue skills, and apply fitness principles in training workouts. Bronze Star is excellent preparation for success in Bronze Medallion and provides a fun introduction to lifesaving sport.
In Bronze Medallion we emphasize the lifesaving principles embodied in the four components of water-rescue education: judgement, knowledge, skill, and fitness. Rescuers learn tows and carries as well as defence methods and releases, preparing themselves for challenging rescues of increased risk involving conscious and unconscious victims of various types.
To take this course, you must be 13 years or older, or have completed Bronze Star.
Bronze Medallion is a Lifesaving Society (LS) certification offered through the YMCA.
We offer Bronze Cross classes for lifesavers who want the challenge of more advanced training, including an introduction to safe supervision in aquatic facilities. In this class we focus on the principles of teamwork, procedures, and the use of special equipment.
To take this course, you must have completed Bronze Medallion AND Emergency or Standard First Aid.
Bronze Cross is a Lifesaving Society (LS) certification offered through the YMCA. It is a prerequisite for all LS advanced training programs, including National Lifeguard and Instructor certifications (YMCA, LIfesaving Society and Red Cross).
Learn how to fulfill your role as a professional facilitator of safe, enjoyable aquatics for everyone! The National Lifeguard (NL) course emphasizes teamwork, leadership, and communication in the prevention of accidents and in first aid treatment of medical emergencies.
To take this course you must be 15 years or older AND have completed Bronze Cross and Standard First Aid.
National Lifeguard is a Lifesaving Society (LS) certification offered through the YMCA. National Lifeguard is the only nationally recognized lifeguard certification in Canada.
Share your love of swimming with others! As a leader in the pool, you can play an essential role in helping others learn to swim and improve their health in many ways.
You will learn a variety of teaching techniques, lesson planning, progressions, and more. To put it all into practice, you’ll also work alongside a certified YMCA Swim Instructor to teach children during a swim lesson.
To take this course, you must be 15 years or older, hold a current National Lifeguard (NL) or Bronze Cross certification, current Standard First Aid, and you must be able to swim strokes at the YMCA Intermediate stroke standard or equivalent.
After completing this course, you will be qualified to work as a YMCA Swim Instructor and teach swimming lessons at the YMCA.
The Lifesaving Society authorizes Examiners to evaluate and certify candidates in the Society’s training programs. Examiners are senior experienced instructors who undergo specific training in examination standards.
The Lifesaving Instructor course prepares instructors to teach the Lifesaving Society’s Canadian Swim Patrol Program, Bronze Star, Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, Lifesaving Fitness, Distinction Basic and Emergency First Aid, and CPR-A and CPR-C.