Yellowknife (Oct 24/03) - She failed her orange swimming class because she couldn't float on her back, but Gwen Hysert didn't let that discourage her.

Hysert is now the acting supervisor at the Ruth Inch Memorial Pool, and said since she started there in 1996, her range of jobs have left her quite knowledgeable.

"There are always interesting things happening at the pool," she said. "We try to keep up with the pools in the south."

Hysert said no one has ever drowned on her watch. Staff members are always keeping busy pulling children out of the water that may be distressed. "It's common here because a lot of kids from the Northern communities that come here are used to one-level pools," she said."They forget that there is a deep end."

Hysert said that as a full-time staff member, she is required to be trained on adding chemicals to the pool water, has to know how to handle hazardous material and mechanical procedures as well.

"We have someone responsible for maintenance but we have to be ready just in case," she said.

Although Hysert appreciates her job, she said she sometimes feels she spends too much time in her office and not enough time in the water because she is also responsible for program scheduling.

"There's a lot of things I like about my job," she said.

"I just really enjoy watching people become responsible.

"Some people don't realize just how responsible a lifeguard has to be."