News release

Nova Scotia Lifeguards Take to the Beaches for Another Season

Health and Wellness

NOTE: A list of supervised beaches follows this release.


Nova Scotia's lifeguards are set to hit the sand on some of the province's popular beaches to provide supervision beginning Friday, July 1.

The Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service, now in its 39th year of operation, will supervise 23 beaches across the province.

"Nova Scotia has many beautiful beaches that allow us to be active while enjoying the outdoors," said Maureen MacDonald, Minister of Health and Wellness. "I hope Nova Scotians have a safe and healthy beach season."

No one has drowned on a beach while being supervised by the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service. Last year, close to 400,000 people visited Nova Scotia's supervised beaches and lifeguards responded to about 219 rescues, injuries and medical emergencies.

"The lifeguards of the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service look forward to another safe and successful season," said Paul D'Eon, director of the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service. "As always, our primary goal is to make the beach-going experience as safe and enjoyable as possible."

The Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service offers beach-goers some simple guidelines to follow:

  • People should swim between the red and yellow flags that mark the supervised portion of the beach
  • Parents should keep their children within arm's reach on the beach and in the water
  • It is illegal to consume alcohol on beaches -- an overwhelming number of drowning and water-related incidents are tied to alcohol consumption

All provincial service lifeguards hold the Lifesaving Society's National Lifeguard, Standard First Aid, and CPR certification. Since opening in 1973, the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service has supervised more than 16.7 million people, been involved in 3,533 rescues and completed more than 1,384 community service projects.

The service is a joint project of the Department of Health and Wellness and the Lifesaving Society, Nova Scotia Branch.


The following is a list of 23 beaches supervised by the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service from Friday, July 1, until Sunday, August 29, unless otherwise specified.

Unless otherwise noted, beaches are guarded daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Antigonish County:

  • Bayfield Beach
  • Pomquet Beach

Cape Breton Regional Municipality:

  • Mira Gut Beach
  • Dominion Beach (Supervision ends on Sept. 5)
  • Ingonish Beach

Cumberland County:

  • Heather Beach

Digby County:

  • Mavillette Beach (Supervised on Saturdays and Sundays only)

Halifax Regional Municipality:

  • Clam Harbour Beach (Supervised on Saturdays and Sundays only)
  • Dollar Lake Beach
  • Lawrencetown Beach (Weekday supervision ends Sept. 5; Weekend supervision continues until Sept. 19)
  • Queensland Beach (Supervision ends on Sept. 5)
  • Rainbow Haven Beach (Supervision ends on Sept. 5)
  • Martinique Beach (Supervision ends on Sept. 5)

Inverness County:

  • Inverness Beach
  • Port Hood Beach

Kings County:

  • Aylesford Lake Beach (Supervision ends on Sept. 5)

Lunenburg County:

  • Bayswater Beach
  • Rissers Beach (Supervision ends on Sept. 5)

Pictou County:

  • Melmerby Beach (Supervision ends on Sept. 5)

Richmond County:

  • Point Michaud Beach

Yarmouth County:

  • Lake Ellenwood Beach
  • Port Maitland Beach
  • Lake Milo Boat Club (Supervision ends on Sept. 5)