Royal Life Saving Society Canada

The Royal Life Saving Society Canada operates throughout Canada as the Lifesaving Society. The Lifesaving Society is a national, volunteer and charitable organization and registered charity composed of 10 provincial/territorial Branches, tens of thousands of individual members, and over 4,000 affiliated swimming pools, waterfronts, schools and clubs. The Society works to prevent drowning and water-related injury through its training programs, Water Smart public education, drowning prevention research, safety management and lifesaving sport.

Lifesaving Society
AbbreviationLSS
Formation1908
Typenonprofit organization
Legal statusactive
Region served
Canada
Official language
English, French
Websitehttp://www.lifesaving.ca/

History

The Royal Life Saving Society arrived in Canada in 1894 with its Honorary Representative, Arthur Lewis Cochrane who joined the faculty of Upper Canada College as a "Drill Instructor". The Society became formalized with the establishment of the Ontario Branch in 1908 as the first Canadian branch of the Royal Life Saving Society UK.[1]

Programs and Certifications

Over 1,000, 000 Canadians participate in the Society's swimming, lifesaving, lifeguard and leadership training programs annually. The Lifesaving Society is incorporated in Canada under the name "The Royal Life Saving Society Canada/La Société Royale de Sauvetage Canada" but has branches for every province and territory. The Lifesaving Society represents Canada in the International Life Saving Federation and the Royal Life Saving Society Commonwealth. The Society sets the standards for aquatic safety in Canada and certifies Canada's National Lifeguards. The Society is the Canadian governing body for lifesaving sport - a sport recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the Commonwealth Games Federation.

Lifesaving Society certifications include:

  • Canadian Lifesaving Program
    • Canadian Swim Patrol Program: Pre-Bronze Awards
      1. Rookie Patrol
      2. Ranger Patrol
      3. Star Patrol
    • Bronze Medal Awards
      1. Bronze Star
      2. Bronze Medallion
      3. Bronze Cross
    • National Lifeguard in four options: Pool, Waterpark, Waterfront, and Surf
    • Other Awards
      • Lifesaving Fitness
      • Boat Rescue
      • Distinction
  • Leadership Training Program
    • Instructor Training
      1. Swim Instructor
      2. Lifesaving Instructor
      3. Advanced Instructor
      4. National Lifeguard Instructor
      5. First Aid Instructor
    • Examiner Training: Examination Standards Clinic
  • Other Programs
    • Boat Operator Accredited Training (BOAT)
    • BOAT Instructor

The Lifesaving Society also trains Coaches and Officials for lifesaving sport.

In 2012, The Lifesaving Society joined forces with The Canadian Red Cross and the Public Health Agency of Canada to launch the Open Water Wisdom initiative, which is a community water activity safety program dedicated to bringing awareness to recreational water safety issues nationally and in hundreds of remote communities across Canada.[2][3][4]

See also

References
  1. http://www.lifesaving.ca/main.php?lang=english&cat=about&sub=history
  2. "THE LIFESAVING SOCIETY AND CANADIAN RED CROSS CALL FOR COMMUNITIES TO JOIN OPEN WATER WISDOM CAMPAIGN," as published in a press release by Open Water Wisdom, May 2012
  3. "Open Water Wisdom," written by Barb Kusyanto, Chief Administrative Officer, Lifesaving Society Alberta & Northwest Territories, July 2012
  4. "Keeping Communities Safe," Archived 2012-08-19 at the Wayback Machine as published in a press release by The Canadian Red Cross, July 2012
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