City of Toronto hiking pay for lifeguards amid staffing shortages
Posted July 30, 2022 9:59 am.
The City of Toronto has increased wages for aquatics positions, including certified lifeguards and swim instructors, by an average of 17 per cent as municipalities across the country grapple with lifeguard shortages.
The pay increase comes after the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 79 requested earlier this year that the city review its aquatics staff wages.
In a press release the City says 2,000 existing staff will receive a pay hike while new hires in positions including lifeguards, swim instructors and wading pool attendants will begin at a higher wage.
The release says waterfront lifeguards and swim instructors will see a 19 per cent increase with a new wage of $21.19 per hour, up from $17.80.
It says despite shortage of lifeguards, approximately 90 per cent of Toronto’s summer aquatics positions have been filled.
Last month the City was forced to cancel 169 swimming lessons due to a shortage of lifeguards.
Certification of lifeguards was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a lack of qualified lifeguards to take on these roles for the summer and affecting jurisdictions across North America.
