The Vancouver Parks Board says it has voted to continue providing lifeguarding services at nine outdoor beaches this summer, after previously saying the program was going to be reduced.
This comes after musician Peter Gabriel spoke out about being rescued by a Vancouver lifeguard when he was in town in 1983.
The lifeguards were going to be removed from Trout Lake, Sunset Beach, Third Beach and Spanish Banks.
However, this change means lifeguards will now be on duty at Spanish Banks West, Spanish Banks East, Locarno, Jericho, Kitsilano, Sunset, English Bay, Second and Third Beach, but not Trout Lake.
Get breaking National news
“This was a difficult decision in the current fiscal environment but we need to make sure our beaches are safe,” park board chair Tom Digby said in a release. “We have a long history of having excellent beach lifeguarding in Vancouver, and residents expect that.”
In a statement, the Lifesaving Society – BC & Yukon Branch said it thanks the City of Vancouver for championing outdoor water safety.
“With this essential service in place, Vancouverites and visitors can more confidently enjoy the outdoors this summer, knowing trained professional lifeguards are available to welcome beachgoers, promote safe behaviours, de-escalate situations, and act quickly when lives are at stake,” Lenea Grace, Executive Director, Lifesaving Society – BC & Yukon Branch, said in a release.
The park board says this change came from a one-time reallocation of funds from its 2026 budget.
Ongoing funding for the program will need to be established in the park board’s 2027 budget.
DOES THAT RESCUE BOAT FLOAT ?
Let’s be real. The only reason Sims reversed this decision is because they got outted for wanting to spend 2 MILLION on fireworks and a private lounge for their closest buddies over saving protecting lives with lifeguards
This should not have been a difficult decision , this will benefit a multitude of people, where as supporting the white caps will only benefit the elite few.