Lifesaving and swim certifications
Lifesaving and swim certifications
Become a lifeguard or swim instructor by taking Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, National Lifeguard, Lifesaving/Swim for Life® Instructor and Intermediate First Aid courses.
Benefits of swim certifications
- Swim for Life® Instructor certification qualifies you to apply for jobs teaching the Lifesaving Swim for Life® programs
- National lifeguard certification qualifies you for lifeguard positions
- Bronze Medallion or Bronze Cross certification prepares you for the Swim for Life® Instructor or National Lifeguard certifications
- Learn valuable life-saving and first aid skills
- Develop high-level swim skills
- Obtain survival and rescue skills
- Excellent health and fitness benefits
2024 spring & summer registration dates
Registration for spring & summer swimming lessons, lifesaving and first-aid certification courses:
- March 14 - Swimming lesson schedule preview
- Certification registration is open
- Swimming lesson registration dates by facility:
- April 2 - Shouldice and Thornhill Aquatic Centres
- April 3 - Village Square Leisure Centre
- April 4 - Renfrew and Inglewood Aquatic Centres
- April 9 - Killarney and Glenmore Aquatic Centres
- April 10 - Southland Leisure Centre and Canyon Meadows and Acadia Aquatic Centres
- April 11 - Churchill and Foothills Aquatic Centres
Ensure your Live and Play account is ready on registration day by logging in and verifying your information is up to date. Get ready to register.
Registration will open:
- 6 a.m. — Online (virtual waiting room opens at 5:30 a.m.).
- 8:30 a.m. — By calling the Customer Service Centre at 403-268-3800 (option 1).
- During business hours — At any City-operated Aquatic & Recreation or Arts facility.
Upcoming facility closures
Programs, classes and swimming lessons will not be offered at the following facilities while they undergo repairs:
- Bob Bahan Aquatic & Fitness Centre: closed this spring and summer.
- Canyon Meadows Aquatic & Fitness Centre: closed this summer.
- Sir Winston Churchill Aquatic & Recreation Centre: closed this summer.
Types of lifesaving and swim certifications
You can register online, in person at our Recreation facilities, or by calling
403-268-3800 (option 1).
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In the pool and on the deck, this program provides challenges in an energetic learning environment. Youth will develop skills in swimming, lifesaving, fitness, knowledge, leadership, and teamwork. Community involvement and competition can also be part of the program.
Ages: 8 - 17 years
Prerequisite: Swimming 50 metre and treading water for one minute.
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Bronze Star is the pre-Bronze Medallion training standard and excellent preparation for success in Bronze Medallion. In Bronze Star, participants develop problem-solving and decision-making skills as individuals and with partners. They learn CPR and develop Water Smart® confidence and the lifesaving skills needed to be their own personal lifeguard. Includes CPR A.
Ages: 12+ years
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Bronze Medallion Award teaches an understanding of the lifesaving principles embodied in the four components of water rescue education: judgment, knowledge, skill, and fitness. Rescuers learn tows and carries, and defense and release methods in preparation for challenging rescues of increased risk involving conscious and unconscious victims of various types. Lifesavers develop stroke efficiency and endurance in a timed swim. Includes CPR C and AED.
Ages: 13+ years
Prerequisite: Bronze Star or 13 years old.
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Bronze Cross is designed for lifesavers who want the challenge of more advanced training, including an introduction to safe supervision in aquatic facilities. Bronze Cross is a prerequisite for all advanced training programs including National Lifeguard and Instructor Certification.
Ages: 13+ years
Prerequisite: Bronze Medallion Award and current Intermediate First Aid.
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This course is designed for lifesavers who have an expired Bronze Cross Award. This course covers updated water rescue techniques, CPR skills and knowledge, and includes an exam.
Ages: 13+ years
Prerequisite: Previously held a Bronze Cross Award. Proof of prerequisite will be requested on the day of this course. This course requires 100% attendance and participation to complete.
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The Lifesaving Society’s® National Lifeguard certification builds on the fundamental skills, knowledge, fitness, judgment and values taught in the prerequisite Bronze Cross award.
Ages: 15+ years
Prerequisite: Bronze Cross and current Intermediate First Aid.
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This is a recertification course for the National Lifeguard Award.
Ages: 16+ years
Prerequisite: National Lifeguard certification and current Intermediate First Aid.
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This certification allows candidates to teach and evaluate, Canadian Swim Patrol, Bronze Star, Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross. Completion of this course also includes Lifesaving CPR Instructor certification.
Ages: 15+ years
Prerequisite: 15 years old and current Bronze Cross or higher and Lifesaving Instructor Certification.
Apprenticeship: In course.
Certification Currency: two years from the date of certification.
This course requires 100% attendance and participation to complete.
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This certification allows candidates to teach and evaluate Swim for Life® programs, Canadian Swim Patrol, Bronze Star, Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross. Completion of this course also includes Lifesaving CPR Instructor certification.
Ages: 15+ years
Prerequisite: Current Bronze Cross or higher.
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This is a recertification course for the Lifesaving/Swim for Life® Instructor Award.
Ages: 16+ years
Prerequisite: Swim for Life® 2015 Mandatory update and First Aid and Resuscitation Content 2016 mandatory update/2021 Bronze update.
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Develops individual fitness levels to meet a timed 100 m swim and 350 m workout. Water proficiency skills include: swims with clothes, ready position, foot-first and head-first surface dives. Demonstrating an ability to conduct a primary assessment and initiating EMS are included as first aid skills. Victim recognition and throwing assists are other key elements of the program.
Ages: 8 - 17 years
Prerequisite: Swim for Life® - Swimmer 6
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Canadian Swim Patrol is a pre-Bronze program with three modules: water proficiency, first aid skills and recognition and rescue. Skills include timed swims, endurance swims, swimming with clothes on, Water Smart® behaviour, rescue skills and first aid performance.
Age: 8 - 17 years
Prerequisite: Swim for Life® - Swimmer 6
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Enhances water proficiency, first aid skills and recognition and rescue. Skills include timed swims, endurance swims, further refining of strokes, rescue skills and first aid performance.
Age: 8 - 17 years
Prerequisite: Swim Patrol - Rookie
About our swim instructors
Our instructors have Bronze Cross or higher certification with current CPR Level C and Intermediate First Aid training. They are qualified to teach and evaluate Swim for Life® programs, Canadian Swim Patrol, Bronze Star, Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross.
What are lessons like?
Classes are both in and out of the pool. Depending on the course, there may be written study material, theory and sessions on practical application.
You'll be expected to show water proficiency, learn recognition and rescue techniques, and tain in CPR and/or First Aid skills.
Come prepared
Participants must wear swim wear and bring a towel. Swim goggles are optional. All other required equipment and lifejackets are provided. Lifeguard on duty on pool deck.
Non-Traditional Bathing Wear Policy
The City of Calgary Recreation is committed to providing an aquatic environment where individuals from all ethnic and religious backgrounds are comfortable participating in activities in and around the water. We want all customers to feel safe and welcome at our facilities, and have therefore adopted a non-traditional bathing wear policy as outlined below.
In addition to conventional swim wear, participants may wear:
- Long-sleeved pants and shirts, tee-shirts and shorts with undergarments or a swim suit worn underneath.
- Traditional ethnic clothing (e.g. saris and hijabs) with a swim suit or undergarments worn underneath. For safety reasons, patrons wearing traditional garments such as saris are asked to remain in the shallow end of the pool and to refrain from using the dive tank.
In order to ensure that our aquatic environments are safe and free from any external contaminants, all participants are required to:
- Wear clothing that is different from the clothing worn to the facility
- Take a complete and cleansing shower (while clothed in the swim attire that will be worn in the water) before entering the pool
Through this policy, Recreation affirms its commitment to recognizing and valuing the diversity of our customers.
More swimming lessons
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Parent & Tot programs that focus on structured in-water interactions stressing the importance of play in developing water-positive attitudes and skills.
Ages: over 6 months + adult
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Preschoolers learn to enter and exit shallow water safely and gain comfort with floats and back glides while wearing lifejackets.
Ages: 3 - 5 years
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Swim programs designed to challenge endurance and help develop swimming strokes and skills for those that can already swim independently.
Ages: 6 - 17 years
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Swim programs for beginners who want to gain confidence in the water or improve their technique and endurance while learning to swim.
Ages: 13 + years
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A customized, one-on-one swim program designed to focus on specific goals and for individuals who require additional support.
Ages: 3+ years.