Daniel T'seleie
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 02/04) - It's not clear whether lifeguards will once again keep watch over swimmers at Long Lake.

Last summer, people swam at their own risk at the popular beach after the city said it was unable to hire lifeguards for the job.

The absence was felt last August when two 11-year-old girls had to come to the rescue of three young children in danger of drowning.

According to Grant White, the city's director of community services for the city, a contract for provision of lifeguards at the lake has not yet been signed between the parks department and the city.

"There's nothing in place yet," said White, Wednesday.

Long Lake beach is located in a territorial park and as such it falls in the territorial government's jurisdiction.

"We certainly want to see lifeguards there, but the reality is the city is best equipped to staff it," said Phil Lee, regional superintendent for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. The territorial government provides money to the city each year for the lifeguards.

"We've made the offer to supply additional funding for lifeguards."

The lack of lifeguards last year was due to a staff shortage, says Gwen Hysert, supervisor at the Ruth Inch Memorial Pool.

"We wanted the beach to be open, but we have to run the pool first," Hysert said. "I don't think people understand how difficult it is to train lifeguards."

Potential lifeguards must be 16 years old, and take several training courses totalling more than 100 hours. Lifeguards at the beach must be 17 and train on beach safety.

Shortage of qualified lifeguards doesn't appear to be a problem at this point.

Hysert says a higher than average number of lifeguards were trained this past winter.

She said she is already looking over resumes for the three full-time beach lifeguard positions. Hysert credits the new aquatics leaders database created by the NWT Recreation and Parks Association for help with recruiting. "It's like a job bank for lifeguards," Hysert said.

If all three positions are filled, there will be two lifeguards at Long Lake on weekdays and three on weekends this summer.