The City of Grande Prairie has made schedule changes for Eastlink Centre aquatics beginning Saturday, March 18 to ensure a continued balanced approach to service delivery during lifeguard shortages.

Public drop-in swimming will be unavailable during the following dates and times:

  • Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Swimming lessons and pre-existing bookings will continue to run as scheduled and are unaffected. This service adjustment ensures guest safety remains the top priority and that required aquatics ratios are maintained.

Aquatics will also close at 6 p.m. on the last Sunday of each month beginning March 26 to allow aquatics staff opportunities to complete required safety training.

“This service adjustment ensures we are prioritizing safety in our aquatics area,” says Grande Prairie Mayor, Jackie Clayton. “It also allows us to continue supporting various options for active lifestyles through important aquatics recreation programs and services including swimming lessons, certification courses, bookings and classes.”

“Communities across Canada are experiencing lifeguard recruitment challenges, and Grande Prairie is no exception,” says Angela Redding, Community Knowledge Campus General Manager. “We have taken various measures to combat labour shortages, including recruitment of 10 new aquatics staff since March 1, offering lifeguard certification courses and the Aquatics New Hire Incentive program.”

The Eastlink Centre instructs National Lifesaving Society’s advanced aquatics courses, which are open for interested participants to start necessary training to begin their career as a lifeguard. The City of Grande Prairie currently has aquatics positions open for applications, see more information at cityofgp.com/jobs. 

Sign Up for Email Notifications

Stay up to date with major aquatics impacts by signing up for email notifications from the City of Grande Prairie. Please follow the steps below to get the latest updates delivered directly to your inbox:

  1. Visit the email notification sign-up page on the website (cityofgp.com/updates).
  2. Enter your email address, first name and last name.
  3. Select the content you would like to see notifications about. For aquatics specific information, please select Service Updates – Aquatics.
  4. Check your email and click the link in the confirmation message to activate your subscription.

Please note service updates are currently only sent out for major aquatics impacts and does not account for minor and short-term impacts.