If you enjoy swimming and want to help others stay safe in the water, the City of Niagara Falls offers fun and rewarding courses to become a certified lifeguard or swim instructor. These programs teach valuable skills like teamwork, communication, and responsibility.
Lifeguard and Swim Instructor Certification Courses
The City of Niagara Falls certifies lifeguards and swim instructors through the Lifesaving Society, a nationally recognized program.
Lifeguard Certification Path
Bronze Star (Optional)
- Description: Develop swimming proficiency, lifesaving skill and personal fitness through refining your stroke mechanics, self-rescue skills and applying fitness principles in training workouts.
- Cost: $135
- Prerequisite: None
- Course dates and times: To be determined
- Location: To be determined
Bronze Medallion and Emergency First Aid
- Description: Challenges the candidate both mentally and physically by teaching the four components of Water Rescue - Judgment, Knowledge, Skill and Fitness. Candidates acquire the assessment and problem-solving skills needed to make good decisions in, on and around the water
- Cost: $155
- Prerequisite: Must be at least 13 years old or have completed Bronze Star
- Course dates and times: To be determined
- Location: To be determined
Bronze Cross
- Description: Candidates begin to understand the transition of being a lifesaver to becoming a lifeguard, as it prepares candidates for responsibilities as an assistant lifeguard. Candidates strengthen and expand their lifesaving skills through teamwork, communication and learning new lifeguarding techniques
- Cost: $155
- Prerequisite: Bronze Medallion and Emergency First Aid
- Course dates and times: August 11 to 15, 2025
- Location: Prince Charles Pool, 6320 Arad Street
- Register and pay
National Lifeguard
- Description: Candidates develop a sound understanding of lifeguarding principles, good judgment and a mature and responsible attitude toward the role of the lifeguard. The course develops basic lifeguarding skills, principles, and decision-making processes that will assist the lifeguard in evaluating and adapting to an aquatics emergency
- Cost: $315
- Prerequisite: Must be at least 15 years old, Bronze Cross and Standard First Aid
- Course dates and times: August 11 to 15 from 9 am to 5 pm
- Location: Prince Charles Pool, 6320 Arad Street
- Register and pay
National Lifeguard Recertification
- Description: The National Lifeguard recertification course is offered to candidates who need to recertify their awards to continue working as lifeguards. The exam will consist of physicals, a short review, and lifeguard situations
- Cost: $90
- Prerequisite: National Lifeguard Pool
- Course dates and times: Friday, August 15 from 9 am to 1 pm
- Location: Prince Charles Pool, 6320 Arad Street
- Register and pay
Swim Instructor Certifications
Lifesaving Society Swim for Life Instructor
- Description: Candidates are prepared to teach and evaluate basic swim strokes and related skills. They learn proven teaching methods, a variety of skill development drills and correction techniques. This certification allows candidates to teach the Swim for Life Program
- Cost: $225
- Prerequisite: You must be at least 15 years old and have Bronze Cross
- Course dates and times:
- Tuesday, August 19 and Thursday, August 21, from 12 pm to 7 pm, or
- Thursdays from September 18 to October 16 from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm
- Location: MacBain Community Centre, 7150 Montrose Road
- Register and pay
Lifesaving Society Lifesaving Instructor
- Description: Candidates are prepared to teach and evaluate basic swim strokes and related skills. This Certification allows candidates to teach Canadian Swim Patrol, Bronze Family Awards and Emergency First Aid Courses
- Cost: $225
- Prerequisite: You must be at least 15 years old and have Bronze Cross
- Course Dates and Times: Tuesday, August 26 to Thursday, August 28, from 12 pm to 7 pm
- Location: MacBain Community Centre, 7150 Montrose Road
- Register and pay
First Aid Courses
Lifesaving Society Standard First Aid with CPR-C
- Description: Candidates learn all aspects of First Aid and CPR, including legal implications of first aid treatment, spinal injuries, heat or cold injuries, bone and joint injuries, chest injuries and medical emergencies. Includes CPR-C Certification
- Cost: $125
- Prerequisite: You must be at least 13 years old
- Course Dates and Times: Saturday, September 13, and Sunday, September 14, from 9 am to 5 pm
- Location: MacBain Community Centre, 7150 Montrose Road
- Register and pay
Contact us
Recreation and Culture
MacBain Community Centre
7150 Montrose Road
Niagara Falls, Ontario L2H 3N3
905-356-7521 x 3330
[email protected]
Office hours:
Monday to Friday: 7 am to 9 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 7 am to 5 pm
