Lifeguard Service Starts on Nova Scotia Beaches

NOTE: A list of provincial beaches with lifeguards follows the release.

Lifeguards will start patrolling Nova Scotia beaches at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 29 to provide safe, enjoyable recreation for people across the province.

"The Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service is starting its 41st year of helping people stay safe when cooling off and enjoying summer fun at beaches around the province," said Health and Wellness Minister David Wilson. "Water safety is a shared responsibility, and we ask all beach goers to be careful while swimming and doing other water sports."

Nova Scotia lifeguards are fully certified and attend training before the season begins to ensure they have technical and physical skills to do water rescue and promote water safety.

"Our training camp this past weekend was a great way to demonstrate how excited, ready and well trained our lifeguards are for this upcoming summer," said lifeguard Sarah Bernier. "We had our first beach competition with some amazing finishes from staff, showing just how well prepared we are mentally and physically."

Since 1973, the lifeguard service has maintained a perfect record of no drownings on Nova Scotia beaches during supervised hours. It aims to maintain this record.

"We are hoping for another safe summer and would like to remind beach goers to supervise their children closely, refrain from drinking alcohol, and act responsibly while at the beach," said Paul D'Eon, director of the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service.

The Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service and the Lifesaving Society, Nova Scotia Branch are contracted by the Department of Health and Wellness to provide beach supervision. More information about the lifeguard service is available at www.nsls.ns.ca.

Provincial beaches with lifeguards are:

• Clam Harbour, Dollar Lake, Lawrencetown, Martinique, Queensland, Rainbow Haven beaches, Halifax Regional Municipality
• Aylesford Lake Beach, Kings Co.
• Mavillette Beach, Digby Co.
• Port Maitland Beach, Lake Ellenwood Beach and Lake Milo Boat Club, Yarmouth Co.
• Bayswater and Rissers beaches, Lunenburg Co.
• Heather Beach, Cumberland Co.
• Melmerby Beach, Pictou Co.
• Bayfield and Pomquet beaches, Antigonish Co.
• Dominion and Mira Gut beaches, Cape Breton Regional Municipality
• Point Michaud, Richmond Co.
• Ingonish Beach, Victoria Co.
• Inverness and Port Hood beaches, Inverness Co.