NSSRP helps Arnprior youth discover career goals

Mahsa Fatemizadeh, has discovered what she wants to do with her life.  

She wants to have a career working in aquatics. 

“I’d really like to have a job related to aquatics – such as teaching people how to swim, or helping those people who are doing Aquafit as part of their rehabilitation after surgery, or if they’re elderly and need to move more,” she explains. “I really want to help other people.” 

Fatemizadeh realized her passion for recreation and aquatics while training to become a swim instructor and lifeguard at the Town of Arnprior’s Nick Smith Centre. She was one of three participants who received their Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, National Lifeguard, Swim Instructor, and Lifesaving Instructor certifications – made possible thanks to funding from the CPRA’s National Swimming Recovery Program (NSSRP), funded in part by the Government of Canada.  

Throughout her certification, Fatemizadeh learned skills that will be important for a future career in aquatics – particularly in water safety, how to prevent injuries, and how to create a safe environment for swimmers to enjoy the sport. She also had the opportunity to shadow lifeguards and swim instructors on the job, and learned hands-on practical skills that will benefit her future employment. 

“I learned how to work with kids in different age groups, as well as older kids and some adults,” she says. “I also learned how to work as a team and help each other work through difficult situations. I really learned a lot from my colleagues here.” 

Fatemizadeh adds that the training taught her the importance of always being ready to act in serious situations, how to scan and count swimmers in a pool to ensure their safety, and how to teach swimming to students with various abilities.  

As a young adult embarking on her career in aquatics, Fatemizadeh says the training was an incredibly meaningful opportunity that she might not have otherwise experienced. 

“This opportunity meant a lot to me, because I had a chance to work with people that were experienced. And it’s not easy to get those experiences,” she says. “This program made that happen for me.” 

Kasia Trautrim, aquatic and facility services supervisor for the Town of Arnprior, says the program also benefited the community because it opened the door to adding a new fulltime lifeguard and instructor on staff – which helps ensure that programs and supervised pool time can continue throughout the day. 

“We’ve been struggling with lifeguards in the mid afternoon, when our full time employees are done and our part time employees are usually still in school,” Trautrim says. “(Adding a new position) means we can fill those gaps, so we don’t have to either cancel programs or leave the pool empty.” 

Trautrim adds that the program allowed for six weeks of training, which provided participants with more experience and education – which contributed to a strong sense of water safety among the participants.  

Additionally, Trautrim says that the program as a whole helped build participants’ confidence – both in the water, and as they step into the working world. 

“I think the experience taught them to come out of their shell. And I think it’s going to help them as they look for part time jobs, and start applying for college and university. It’s a great thing to add to their resume,” she says.