Instructor Guard Recruitment Program

The deadline for applications for the Instructor Guard Recruitment Program has now passed.

The City of Winnipeg is offering a FREE 16-week certification program to become an Instructor Guard.

This program will provide the opportunity for up to 40 successful applicants to receive the six courses required to apply as an Instructor Guard with the City. All course materials will be included free of charge. The program is designed to reduce financial barriers for those who wish to find employment as an Instructor Guard with the City.

The program will also provide an opportunity to those who have partial completion of the six required courses.     

Courses included

  • Bronze Medallion (18 hours)
  • Bronze Cross (22 hours)
  • Standard First Aid & CPR C/AED (16 hours)
  • Swim for Life Instructor (24 hours)
  • National Lifeguard – Pool (44 hours)
  • Lifesaving Instructor (24 hours)

100% attendance is required for all courses.

Minimum requirements

  • Applicants must be at least 16 years old at the time of application
  • Minimum Grade 10 education
  • Ability to obtain a Police Information Check (Vulnerable Sector) acceptable to the City by December 31, 2023
  • Ability to successfully demonstrate the items outlined in the swim assessment (approximately Red Cross Level 8 or Lifesaving Society Swimmer 6 swim ability)
  • Agree to work for the City for a minimum of one year upon successful completion of all free courses, a formal interview, and New Hire training (40 hours unpaid)
  • Agree to work the minimum work requirements with the City (three shifts or nine hours per week)

Application process

  • Applications will be reviewed and successful applicants will be invited to an in-person interview and swim assessment.
  • Upon successful interview and swim assessment, you will have the opportunity to select your training schedule from the outlined options.

Swim assessments

Dates/times

  • Thursday, August 3 from 5 – 9 p.m.
  • Saturday, August 5 from 9 – 4 p.m.

Assessments include

  • 50m Front Crawl (demonstrating correct technique)
  • 50m Back Crawl (demonstrating correct technique)
  • 50m Breast Stroke (demonstrating correct technique)
  • 50m Elementary Back Stroke or Whip kick on back (demonstrating correct technique)
  • One-minute treading water/surface support
  • Ability to swim 400m in approximately 12 minutes
  • Ability to recover an object from an 8ft depth

Training schedule

The training is divided into three parts to help with scheduling. You will be able to select (based on availability) the schedule that works best for you.

Full Course Completion (6 courses)

Training Part 1

  • August 27, 28, 29, 30 & 31 and September 1 (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)

Training Part 2
Choose one of these options:

  • September 5 (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
  • September 6 (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
  • September 9 (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)

Training Part 3    
Choose one of these options:

  • Sunday, September 10 – December 3* (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
    *No class October 8
  • Tuesday & Thursday, September 12 – November 30 (5 – 9:30 p.m.)
  • Saturday, September 16 – December 16* (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.) 
    *No class September 30 or November 11

Partial Course Completion

Swim for Life Instructor
Choose one of these options:

  • August 15, 16 & 17 (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
  • December 27, 28 & 29 (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)

Lifesaving Instructor
Choose one of these options:

  • August 12, 13 & 19 (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
  • January 2, 3 & 4 (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)

National Lifeguard (Pool)
Choose one of these options:

  • August 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 & 26 (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
  • December 27, 28 & 29 and January 2, 3 & 4 (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)

Was this information helpful?

How can we make this web page better?

Information collected will be used to improve our website. Do not use this form to submit a request for service or information because it will not be forwarded to departments for response. To submit a request for service or information, contact 311.

This form is not intended to collect personal information; however, any personal information you choose to include in your comments is collected by the City of Winnipeg under the authority of section 36(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the purpose of improving our website and will not be used or disclosed for any other purposes, except as authorized by law. Contact the Corporate Access and Privacy Officer by mail (City Clerk’s Department, Susan A. Thompson Building, 510 Main Street, Winnipeg MB, R3B 1B9) or by telephone (311) if you have any questions about the collection of this information.

Ces renseignements sont-ils utiles?

Comment pourrait-on améliorer cette page Web?

Les renseignements recueillis serviront à l’amélioration de notre site Web. Prière de ne pas se servir de ce formulaire pour soumettre une demande de service ou de renseignements, car la demande ne sera pas transmise au service en question. Pour soumettre une demande de service ou de renseignements, veuillez communiquer avec le 311.

Le présent formulaire ne vise pas à recueillir des renseignements personnels. Cependant, les renseignements personnels que vous choisissez d’inclure dans vos commentaires sont recueillis par la Ville de Winnipeg en conformité avec l’alinéa 36(1)b) de la Loi sur l’accès à l’information et la protection de la vie privée dans le but d’améliorer son site Web et ne seront ni utilisés ni divulgués pour d’autres raisons, sauf dans les cas où cela est autorisé par la loi. Communiquez avec l’agent de l’accès à l’information et de la protection de la vie privée de la Ville par courrier au Bureau du greffier, immeuble Susan-A.-Thompson, 510, rue Main, Winnipeg (Manitoba) R3B 1B9, ou par téléphone au 311 si vous avez des questions sur la collecte de ces renseignements.