NSSRP gives Brandon youth job skills, promotes water safety awareness 

Eleven years ago, Natasha Bercier was a teenager who went through training programs to become a certified lifeguard – earning her Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, Swim for Life, First Aid, and National Lifeguard certifications at the Brandon’s Community Sportsplex in Manitoba.   

The experience taught her the skills necessary to become a lifeguard and swimming teacher. But it also laid the groundwork for her future career as the Sportsplex’s Aquatic Programmer. 

“I had the internal connections to the Sportsplex, and I was able to get a job here in the facility basically within a month of finishing my programming which was really nice,” Bercier remembers. “They had enough confidence in me that they wanted me on staff.”  

More than a decade later, a new generation of lifeguards – and potential aquatic programming leaders – were given the same training opportunities at the Sportsplex, thanks to funding from the CPRA’s National Swimming Recovery Program (NSSRP), which was funded in part by the Government of Canada.  

Throughout 2024, Bercier says the sportsplex was able to successfully provide six youth with their Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, Swim for Life, First Aid, and National Lifeguard certification where they trained alongside other lifeguards on the facility’s pool deck. They also had the opportunity to teach swimming alongside the pool’s staff – which Bercier says opened new employment possibilities for the youth participants. 

“We have the need for lifeguards, so I would love to have the candidates reapply to come work for us permanently,” she says, adding that their training at the Sportsplex provided them with the experience they need to continue working there. “It’s nice having the candidates training in your facility, and having them apply directly to your facility, because they are up to par with the facility’s rules and regulations.” 

Bercier says the program also gave youth participants concrete skills they can apply to any career, whether it’s in aquatics and recreation or other sectors. For instance, she says that participants learned the importance of teamwork, and how to effectively communicate with one another. 

While working as swimming instructors, Bercier adds that many of the participants learned how to work individually and lead classes with children on any given day. 

“If they want to become a teacher, that would pertain to that field,” she says, adding that the training also instilled a greater sense of confidence within some participants which is valuable as they embark on their careers.

 

The training also provided important water safety education to the participants – particularly the youth who had less experience in the water. After one year of training, Bercier says these youth became confident and skilled swimmers who became more aware of how to stay safe, and help others stay safe. 

“I liked the diversity we had in this program. We did have some weaker swimmers that applied, and now, they’re strong. I’m really happy with how well they progressed,” Bercier says. 

The message of water safety also reached other youth who swam at the Sportsplex. Every Wednesday evening, the swim team and the program’s participants shared the pool and Bercier says the team often took notice of the lifesaving techniques that were being taught. 

“The swim team members were the same age as our participants, so all the rescue techniques definitely piqued their interest,” she says.  

She adds that the program gave the City of Brandon a unique opportunity to train youth who have an interest in boosting their skills – and, who would like to have a career in aquatics someday. 

“We run leadership courses, but there are not a lot for this age group. It was nice to give them this extra offering,” Bercier says.