Sport & Rec offers variety of certifications and aquatic leadership course for students, staff and general public.
All leadership courses require 100 per cent active participation and attendance; including in-water participation for aquatics courses. Please ensure all prerequisites have been met before enrolling and be prepared to show proof at the first course. Certification courses are pass/fail and include an exam date. Participants must be self-motivated and commit to a learning contract at the first class.
*Please be advised that participants who are unsuccessful in passing a certification course must re-take the entire course; candidates will not be permitted the opportunity to be re-examined.*
Bronze Star, Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross and National Lifeguard all contain a mandatory fitness component. Visit the Lifesaving Society for details: Bronze awards, NL.
*Refunds/transfers must be requested 4 days prior to the start of the course or a full fee will apply*
Privacy Notice: Certifications are issued by the Lifesaving Society and the Canadian Red Cross. The Sport & Rec/Junior Blues Program is required to disclose names, addresses and birth dates for all participants in order to issue certificates.
Please note that some classes listed below, are combined with U of T student programs (17+)/Junior Blues programs (under 18 yo).
Aquatic Leadership Courses
Bronze Star
This introductory Lifesaving Society course in water rescue is excellent preparation for success in Bronze Medallion. Participants develop problem solving and decision-making skills individually and in pairs. A 400 m timed swim is included.
Prerequisites: Participants must be 11 years old. Having completed Swim for Life 8 or able to complete a 300m endurance swim is strongly recommended.
Materials: none
Bronze Medallion and Emergency First Aid
The Lifesaving Society's Bronze Medallion Award teaches an understanding of lifesaving principles. Stroke efficiency and a 400m endurance timed swim are test items. Emergency First Aid is taught and evaluated during this course. Bronze Medallion is the prerequisite for Bronze Cross.
Prerequisites: Participants must be 13 years old or 12 years old with a Bronze Star certification (need not be current).
Materials: Canadian Lifesaving Manual, Bronze Medallion Workbook, and pocket mask required. Available for purchase at the main office.
Register Here for Sport & Rec Bronze Medallion and EFA (18+)
Register Here for Junior Blues Bronze Medallion and EFA (under 18)
Bronze Cross
Bronze Cross is an advanced lifesaving course and is a prerequisite for all advanced training programs, including the National Lifeguard Award and Instructor certifications. A timed 400 m swim is included.
Prerequisites: Participants must have successfully passed Bronze Medallion and Emergency or Standard First Aid (need not be current).
Materials: Canadian Lifesaving Manual, Bronze Cross Workbook, pocket mask, and whistle required. Available for purchase at the main office.
Register Here for Sport & Rec Bronze Cross (18+)
Register Here for Junior Blues Bronze Cross (under 18)
National Lifeguard Certification
National lifeguard training builds on the fundamental skills, knowledge and values taught in the earlier lifesaving awards. National Lifeguard Award is the standard lifeguarding certificate in Canada.
Prerequisites: Participants must be 15 years of age by the exam date, have successfully passed Bronze Cross and hold a Standard First Aid and Basic Rescuer/Level C CPR (need not be current).
Materials: Alert: Lifeguarding in Action required. Available for purchase at the main office.
Register Here for National Lifeguard
National Lifeguard Re-Certification.
Lifeguard certification is current for 2 years and is recertified by completing a National Lifeguard recertification exam. The recertification may require 5 - 8 hr. depending on the number of candidates. You are required to have a National Lifeguard certification to recertify (need not be current) Please bring proof of certification to the course.
Register Here for National Lifeguard Re-certification
Swim Instructor
The Lifesaving Society Swim Instructor course prepares the instructor to teach and evaluate the swimming strokes and related skills found in the Lifesaving Society Swim for Life program. Candidates acquire proven teaching methods, planning skills, and a variety of stroke development drills and correction techniques.
Prerequisites: Participants must be 15 years of age by the exam date, have successfully passed Bronze Cross (need not be current).
Manuals: Swim Instructor Pack (includes Instructor Manual, Swim for Life Award Guide, Teaching Swim for Life and Leadership Binder).
CPR-C and First Aid Certifications
CPR-C with AED
Courses on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) provide the skills needed to recognize and respond to cardiovascular emergencies and choking for adults, children, and babies depending on the level of CPR chosen. Courses meet legislation requirements for provincial/territorial worker safety and insurance boards, and include the latest CPR guidelines and training in the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Courses are offered through Lifesaving Society and Canadian Red Cross.
Completion
Ability to comprehend and successfully demonstrate all required skills, including critical steps;
100% attendance and participation; 75% min. passing grade on a written, closed book knowledge evaluation (Red Cross only); and adherence to the Fundamental Principles.
Required Material:
- CPR-Pocket Mask – participants must have their own mask (please note that the mask must have a one-way valve) or can purchase one during the registration.
Register Here for CPR-C Course
Standard First Aid and CPR-C with AED
Standard First Aid (SFA) award holders may recertify just once on a SFA recertification course. To renew a SFA certification subsequently, you are required to repeat the full course. Thereafter, you may renew by alternating re-certifications and original courses.
If your SFA certification is older than three years, you are required to take the full course (not a re-certification course) again.
Standard First Aid and CPR-C with AED (Canadian Red Cross)
Comprehensive Canadian Red Cross blended course offering first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR- C) skills for those who need training due to work requirements or who want more knowledge to respond to emergencies at home.
Includes 8-hour online module which must be completed prior to attending the classroom session (emailed to all registered participants a week before course start date).
Prerequisite: CRC Standard First Aid and CPR-C online module completion; 17 years old and older
Required Material:
- CPR-Pocket Mask – participants must have their own mask (please note that the mask must have a one-way valve) or can purchase one during the registration.
Completion:
Ability to comprehend and successfully demonstrate all required skills, including critical steps;
100% attendance and participation; 75% min. passing grade on a written, closed book knowledge evaluation; and adherence to the Fundamental Principles.
Manual: E-manual distributed to participants. In classroom hard copies available to lend.
Certifications will be emailed upon successful course completion.
Register Here for Blended Standard First Aid and CPR-C Canadian Red Cross Course
Standard First Aid and CPR-C with AED (Lifesaving Society)
Standard First Aid provides comprehensive training covering all aspects of first aid and CPR. Standard First Aid incorporates all of Emergency First Aid and is designed for those who require a more in-depth understanding of first aid including: legal implications of first aid treatment, spinal injuries, heat or cold injuries, bone and joint injuries, chest injuries, and medical emergencies. Includes CPR-C certification.
Prerequisite: None.
Candidate recognition: Certification card (temporary card issued by instructor upon successful course completion, permanent card mailed by Lifesaving Society within 90 days)
Required reference material: Canadian First Aid Manual or Canadian Lifesaving Manual. (Note materials can be purchased at the Main Office or borrowed for the in-classroom use).
Required Material:
- CPR-Pocket Mask – participants must have their own mask (please note that the mask must have a one-way valve) or can purchase one during the registration.
Completion:
Ability to comprehend and successfully demonstrate all required skills, including critical steps;
100% attendance and participation; 75% min. passing grade on a written knowledge evaluation; and adherence to the Fundamental Principles.
Register Here for Standard First Aid with CPR-C Lifesaving Society Course
Standard First Aid and CPR-C with AED Recertification
The Ontario Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB) specifies that Standard First Aid (SFA) award holders may recertify just once on a SFA recertification course. To renew a SFA certification subsequently, you are required to repeat the full course. Thereafter, you may renew by alternating recertifications and original courses.
If your SFA certification is older than three years, you are required to take the full course (not a recert) again.
Holders of Standard First Aid certificates must recertify only with the original certifying agency. Check your qualifications before you attend your Standard First Aid recertification to make sure you meet the requirement.
Participants who do not meet the course requirements will not be able to take the course, full course fee will apply.
Register Here for Standard First Aid with CPR-C Recertification Course