Aquatic Leadership

About Aquatic Leadership

The road to becoming a lifeguard or swim instructor can be demanding, but those who choose to pursue it are rewarded with endless opportunities. Aquatic leadership programs help participants develop sound judgement, decision-making, problem-solving and communication skills that employers value. Lifeguards and swim instructors who complete their courses open doors to successful careers in the fields of education, emergency services, medicine and beyond.

View the progression chart to see what steps to take to become a lifeguard and swim instructor.

Aquatic Leadership Progression Chart

First Aid Program Changes

On June 22, 2026, WSIB is introducing new program standards and program titles for first aid programs across Ontario. Please note that the following program names are changing as of June 22, 2026, to meet these requirements:

Name Prior to June 22, 2026	Name After June 22, 2026
Emergency First Aid with CPR-B	Basic First Aid with CPR-C and AED
Standard First Aid with CPR-C	Intermediate First Aid with CPR-C and AED
CPR-C	CPR-C and AED

Starting for June 22, 2026, the City of Brampton will be offering the new program standards and course names to meet the requirements of WSIB. Certifications gained prior to June 22, 2026, will still remain current for 36 months after the certification date and will be accepted as proof of prerequisites for aquatics certifications after June 22, 2026.

Please view our frequently asked questions for more information on the First Aid update and how it affects City of Brampton Programs.

For questions about Aquatic Leadership and/or First Aid programs, email recreation@brampton.ca with your preferred facility, and we will connect you with the appropriate team.

Register Here

Preparing for an Aquatic Leadership Course

Aquatic leadership courses look to build and test a candidate's knowledge, skill, fitness and judgement in an aquatic environment. To prepare for your course, we suggest the following:

Train to meet the physical requirements of each course. Some courses require participants to complete specific swim stroke and/or lifesaving skills. For example, Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, and National Lifeguard require a timed 400 m continuous endurance swim and Swim, Lifesaving, and Emergency First Aid Instructors require the demonstration of correct technique for front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, and all lifesaving kicks. Full course requirements can be reviewed on the Lifesaving Society's website by selecting the award and viewing the “At-A-Glance" section.
Review all skills and knowledge from prerequisite courses. Aquatic Leadership courses introduce new concepts and skills that build on prerequisite courses, but do not include review time for previous course material. For example, National Lifeguard has a prerequisite of Standard First Aid with CPR-C and candidates are expected to demonstrate these skills of the prerequisite course to standard at the start of the course. Prerequisite courses are listed in the descriptions of our programs and on the Lifesaving Society's website.

What should I bring to the first day of my course?
- Valid government-issued identification with your legal name and birth date. All Leadership Conductors are required to verify candidates' identities on the first day of the course in accordance with the Lifesaving Society's Verification of Identity Policy. Candidates can present either a physical, digital (e.g., a photo), or photocopy of a valid government ID at the beginning of the first class. Additionally, ID may be needed to confirm age prerequisites, if applicable. You will not receive certification in the course without providing proof of identity or age.
- Proof of prerequisite awards. If the course has prerequisites candidates must present proof of holding the prerequisite award at the beginning of the course. This can be either a temporary card (only valid for 90 days), a permanent card or through looking up the candidate's Lifesaving Society Member ID account. Participation in the course will not be permitted without proof of prerequisite(s)
- Any course reference manuals listed in the description of the course. Only course manuals that are purchased at the time of registration will be handed out at the start of the course. All other required manuals must be brought to the course by the candidate and may need to be purchased from the Lifesaving Society at www.lifeguarddepot.com. More information can be found in the course description or contact the facility to answer any specific questions.
- Bring all required swim gear for water-based courses. If your course includes a water component, come prepared with appropriate items such as a bathing suit, a towel, goggles, deck shoes, etc.
- It is also recommended to bring lunch/snacks, writing utensils, paper and a reusable water bottle.
How will I be evaluated during my course?
All candidates will be evaluated against the course standards set by the Lifesaving Society. Course conductors will teach to these standards, provide feedback and then evaluate candidates according to these standards.
Additionally, the course reference manuals and workbooks also outline the required standards.
To receive certification, candidates must meet all course standards within the scheduled course time and maintain 100% attendance with active participation throughout all sessions.
How is the City of Brampton reducing financial barriers for our Aquatic Leadership/First Aid candidates?
The City of Brampton offers a few different options that help reduce the costs of courses for our candidates.
- Library Program for Candidate Manuals: The Brampton Library has copies of the candidate manuals for Bronze Medallion and Emergency First Aid with CPR-B, Bronze Cross and Standard First Aid with CPR-C, Standard First Aid with CPR-C, National Lifeguard and Swim, Lifesaving and Emergency First Aid Instructors that are available to borrow instead of needing to purchase the manuals. If candidates plan on borrowing the books, they need to ensure they have them before the start of the course.
- ActiveAssist: ActiveAssist is a fee subsidy program offered by the City of Brampton, designed to help low-income families and individuals participate in Recreation programs. This program can be used to register for aquatic leadership and first aid programs. More information about ActiveAssist and how to apply can be found here.
- Volunteer Course Discounts: Eligible City of Brampton Recreation program volunteers may receive discounts on a variety of aquatic leadership, first aid, and HIGH FIVE courses that are necessary to apply for employment opportunities. Volunteers with 10-39.9 hours are eligible for a 20% discount, and volunteers with 40+ hours can receive a 50% discount on courses. Volunteer hours may be stacked to receive multiple discounts. For example, 80 volunteer hours may be used toward two separate 50% course discounts. Conditions apply. More information about the City of Brampton's volunteer program and how to apply can be found here.

Employment & Volunteer Opportunities

Join our aquatics team and have fun working indoors or outdoors! Be part of a team that's dedicated to community leadership and developing life-saving skills. Build lifelong friendships and enjoy amazing perks like a flexible schedule, working outdoors, and opportunities for career development.

Both volunteering and employment opportunities are posted on a sessional basis, depending on availability. If you do not see a current posting, please check back soon!

View Employment Opportunities View Volunteer Opportunities Aquatic Hiring Tip Sheet (PDF)

Questions?

View a list of Frequently Asked Questions or visit our Contact Us page to find additional information.

​First Aid Program Changes

Register Here

Employme​nt & Volunteer Opportunities

Questions?

First Aid Program Changes

Employment & Volunteer Opportunities