Swim Transition: Canadian Red Cross to Lifesaving Society Canada

The Canadian Red Cross Swimming & Water Safety and Lifeguard Programs will no longer be offered as of January 1, 2023: view the press release on the Canadian Red Cross website.

During 2022 the Canadian Red Cross is winding down its Swimming & Water Safety and Lifeguard training to focus on surging humanitarian demands in other areas. The Canadian Red Cross is encouraging its Water Safety Training Partners to transition to the swimming, lifeguarding and aquatic leadership programs of the Lifesaving Society Canada.

To support their Water Safety Training Partners the Canadian Red Cross has partnered with the Lifesaving Society to develop special transition pathways. These pathways will be available until December 31, 2022.

Both organizations are committed to making this transition opportunity as smooth as possible. 

Swim transition pathways for Red Cross-certified individuals 

The Lifesaving Society and Canadian Red Cross have created special pathways by which Red Cross certification holders transition to corresponding Lifesaving Society certifications. These pathways recognize and acknowledge the competencies earned in Red Cross certifications while providing the knowledge and resources critical for success as a Lifesaving Society instructor, lifeguard or trainer. 

The opportunity to attain Lifesaving Society certifications via these transition pathways ends December 31, 2022.

After the December 31, 2022 deadline for using transition pathways individuals will be required to follow all normal Lifesaving Society certification requirements and pay all applicable fees. 

Expiry date extension 

To facilitate the transition, Red Cross has extended all Swimming & Water Safety and Lifeguard certifications to December 31, 2022 (if they would naturally expire before then). 

Transfer of Red Cross certification data 

With your permission, Red Cross will transfer your certification information to the Lifesaving Society. If you do not grant permission for this transfer, you will need to contact your Lifesaving Society provincial/territorial Branch for direction on how to provide proof of certification.