TORONTO — The City of Toronto says it is upping aquatics staff wages by an average of 17 per cent as municipalities across the country grapple with lifeguard shortages.
The pay increase comes after the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 79 requested earlier this year that the city review its aquatics staff wages.
Get breaking National news
A City of Toronto press release says 2,000 existing staff will receive a pay hike while new hires in positions including lifeguards, swim instructors and wading pool attendants will begin at a higher wage.
- ‘Call them out’: AI data centres becoming an Ontario municipal election issue
- Montreal man fights charges after rescuing baby raccoon ‘Pepper’ that bonded to him
- Alberta NDP proposes 3-part plan over custody releases in Edmonton’s Chinatown
- The poll-ar bear results are in, Winnipeg zoo reveals cub’s new name
The release says waterfront lifeguards and swim instructors will see a 19 per cent increase with a new wage of $21.19 per hour, up from $17.80.
It says despite shortage of lifeguards, approximately 90 per cent of Toronto’s summer aquatics positions have been filled.
Toronto continues to offer weekend and week-long crash courses in aquatics leadership and officials encourage interested applicants to become certified.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.