Lifeguard Service Begins 27th Season

On Canada Day, the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service begins its 27th season of providing supervision on beaches across the province.

"The lifeguards will be attending training camp all this week preparing for their duties this summer," said Robbie Harrison, Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission. "They are thoroughly professional and are known for their commitment to training and education. We are proud of the fact that in the 27 years of the lifeguard service's operation, there has not been a drowning during the hours of supervision."

From July 1 to Aug. 29, about 70 lifeguards from the service will supervise 18 beaches at the ocean and on lakes from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Once again, the lifeguards will have cellular phones provided through the Connected for Safety partnership with MT&T Mobility.
The cell phones enhance the lifeguards' ability to respond quickly in emergencies.

The Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service is a joint project of the Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission, which provides funding, and the Lifesaving Society-Nova Scotia Branch, which is responsible for operations.

Beaches that will be supervised include:

• Dominion Beach
• Indian Beach (Cape Breton Regional Municipality contract)
• Mira Gut Beach (Cape Breton Regional Municipality contract)
• Clam Harbour Beach (weekends only)
• Dollar Lake Beach
• Lawrencetown Beach
• Rainbow Haven Beach
• Heather Beach
• Inverness Beach
• Melmerby Beach
• Port Hood Beach
• Aylesford Lake Beach (Kings County Recreation contract)
• Lake Ellenwood Beach
• Queensland Beach
• Rissers Beach

The lifeguard service provides consultation services to:

• Antigonish County Recreation's Bayfield Beach and Pomquet Beach
• Annapolis County Recreation's Raven Haven

NOTE TO EDITORS: A backgrounder and fact sheet on the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service are available by e-mailing [email protected] or calling 902-424-4492.