Welcome to our new website!

Welcome to our new City of Niagara Falls website! Explore our updated pages, improved navigation, and new features designed to serve you better.

Please note that for approximately 24 hours, you may experience intermittent changes or minor glitches as the update is completed. By January 8, the website will be fully updated and operating smoothly.

If you encounter any issues after January 7, please report them by emailing service@niagarafalls.ca or by calling 905-356-7521.

Swimming Certification Courses

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.

Fees: Find the current fees on our Schedule of Fees page.

Aquatic certification course fees

Two lifeguards at MacBain Community Centre indoor pool, standing on the pool deck and smiling for the camera. Both wearing red lifeguard uniform shirts.

Lifeguard Certification Path

  • Description: Develop swimming proficiency, lifesaving skill and personal fitness through refining your stroke mechanics, self-rescue skills and applying fitness principles in training workouts.  
  • Prerequisite: None
  • Course dates and times:
    • January 5 to March 9 - Mondays from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
    • March 23 to May 25 - Mondays from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
  • Location: MacBain Community Centre, 7150 Montrose Road

Register and pay

  • 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
  • Prerequisite: Must be at least 13 years old or have completed Bronze Star
  • Course dates and times:
    • January 4 to February 1 - Sundays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
    • January 7 to March 11 - Wednesdays from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm
    • March 24 to May 26 - Tuesdays from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm
  • Location: MacBain Community Centre, 7150 Montrose Road

Register and pay

  • Description: Candidates begin to understand the transition from being a lifesaver to becoming a lifeguard, as it prepares them for responsibilities as an assistant lifeguard. Candidates strengthen and expand their lifesaving skills through teamwork, communication and learning new lifeguarding techniques.
  • Prerequisite: Bronze Medallion and Emergency First Aid
  • Course dates and times: 
    • January 6 to March 10 - Tuesdays from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm
    • February 7 to March 7 - Saturdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
    • March 25 to May 27 - Wednesdays from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm
  • Location: MacBain Community Centre, 7150 Montrose Road

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.
  • Prerequisite: Must be at least 15 years old, Bronze Cross and Standard First Aid
  • Course dates and times: 
    • January 25 to March 1 - Sundays from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
    • April 12 to May 10 - Sundays from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
  • Location: MacBain Community Centre, 7150 Montrose Road

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.
  • Prerequisite: National Lifeguard Pool
  • Course dates and times: 
    • Sunday, February 8, from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm
    • Sunday, May 3, from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm
  • Location: MacBain Community Centre, 7150 Montrose Road

Register and pay

The MacBain Community Centre indoor pool. A swimming lesson instructor is in the water talking to three young children

Swim Instructor Certifications

Assistant Swim Instructors

  • Description: Through classroom learning and in-water practice, the Lifesaving Society Assistant Instructor course prepares candidates to help instructors with swimming and lifesaving classes. Candidates are introduced to key principles of learning and teaching while they master basic progressions. The roles and responsibilities of instructors and their assistants are emphasized.
  • Prerequisite: 14 years of age by the end of the course and Bronze Cross certification
  • Course dates and times: January 8 to February 5 - Thursdays from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Register and pay

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.
  • Prerequisite: You must be at least 15 years old and have Bronze Cross
  • Course dates and times:  
    • February 12 to March 12 - Thursdays from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm
    • April 16 to May 14 - Thursdays from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm
    • May 29 to May 31 - Friday from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Saturday & Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 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.
  • Prerequisite: You must be at least 15 years old and have Bronze Cross
  • Course dates and times: Friday, April 24, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 pm, and Saturday, April 25 & Sunday, April 26, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
  • Location: MacBain Community Centre, 7150 Montrose Road

Register and pay

A close up photo of someone on their knees, doing chest compression on a white plastic dummy for a first aid or CPR class.

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.
  • Prerequisite: You must be at least 13 years old
  • Course dates and times:
    • Saturday, January 17 and Sunday, January 18, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
    • Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29, from 9:00 am to 5 pm
    • Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
  • Location: MacBain Community Centre, 7150 Montrose Road

Register and pay

Standard First Aid with CPR-C Recertification

  • Standard First Aid Recertification Policy: The Ontario Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB) specifies that Standard First Aid (SFA) award holders may recertify just once on a SFA recertification course. To renew a SFA certification subsequently, you are required to repeat the full course. Thereafter, you may renew by alternating recertifications and original courses. If your SFA certification is older than three years, you are required to take the full course (not a recert) again. Holders of Standard First Aid certificates must recertify only with the original certifying agency.
  • Prerequisite: Lifesaving Society Standard First Aid with CPR-C Certification within three years of certification
  • Course dates and times:
    • Saturday, January 31, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
    • Saturday, June 13, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Register and pay

Contact Us

City of Niagara Falls
4310 Queen Street
P.O. Box 1023
Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6X5
Canada
905-356-7521
service@niagarafalls.ca