CFMWS’ Aquatics Team

All job opportunities will be advertised on our career site at www.cfmws.ca/careers. When you see an opportunity that interests you, apply online. Job opportunities are also advertised on major job boards like Indeed, Jobillico and LinkedIn.
It is very important to show in your resume how you meet the qualifications of the position.

Job Opportunities
Apply onlineCFMWS operates indoor and outdoor pools, beaches and splash pads at most bases across Canada. These aquatic venues serve two purposes, community recreational aquatics for members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), their families and the general public and operational aquatics activities for members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
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Community Recreation Aquatics
The primary components of the community recreation aquatic and water safety programs provided by CFMWS are:
- Swim Lesson Program: designed to provide the aquatic and water safety skills required to function effectively and safely in, on, under or around the water.
- Aquatic Leadership Program: provides water safety, fitness and lifesaving instruction for persons 8 years and older. Using the Lifesaving Society aquatic leadership continuum, this program serves as the training mechanisms for lifeguards.
- Recreation Aquatic Activities: designed to provide aquatic leisure activities, including but not limited to, open/family swims, length swimming, club activities and specialized aquatic programming.
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Operational Aquatics
Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members engage in various operational aquatics activities as part of their operational duties. CFMWS Aquatic team members work with CAF members to ensure they are well prepared to execute these tasks, including:
- Search and Rescue (SAR) (air and maritime search and rescue operations across Canada, fisheries patrols).
- Survival training
- Underwater escape training (simulating scenarios where personnel must escape from submerged vehicles or aircraft).
- Diving training (for those in roles such as clearance divers, training includes underwater navigation, demolition, and salvage operations).
- The Basic Military Swim Standard (BMSS) (ensures that CAF members possess elementary swimming skills and related water safety knowledge so that they can respond effectively to emergency situations that may arise when working in, on, under or around water).
Lifeguarding is like being a superhero of the lakes and pools! Imagine spending your days surrounded by the laughter of swimmers, and the refreshing splash of water. As a lifeguard or swim instructor at CFMWS, you’re the guardian of good times, ensuring everyone enjoys their swim safely. These are some of the things that make it exciting:
As part of the Aquatics team, you’re a pillar of safety in the community. You watch over families, kids, and competitive swimmers, ensuring everyone’s well-being. It’s a role that earns you respect and gratitude from the community.

Community Hero
Apply onlineYou’re part of a team that’s always got your back. Together, you train, perform drills, and share the responsibility of safeguarding lives. The camaraderie among lifeguards is strong, and the friendships you form can last a lifetime.

Team Spirit
Apply onlineThe skills you learn as a lifeguard go beyond the poolside. You become proficient in CPR, first aid, and emergency response—skills that are valuable in any situation, making you a more capable and confident individual.

Lifelong Skills
Apply onlineEveryday you make a real difference. Whether it’s teaching a child to swim or preparing a Canadian Armed Forces member to save someone in distress, you’re impacting lives in a positive way.

Making a Difference
Apply online
CFMWS Employee Benefits
Career opportunities
There is a diverse array of positions available with our Aquatics team and the possibility to grow your career in Aquatics with CFMWS. Our Swim Instructors and Lifeguards are the heart of the Aquatics team. Our Supervisors and Coordinators combine their passion for aquatics with delivering programs efficiently and effectively. Some of our positions in Fitness also require aquatics backgrounds allowing career growth to positions like Fitness and Sports Instructors and Reconditioning Specialists.
To learn more about the aquatics program in your community, select your community via the Select your community menu located on the top navigation. Click on Sports, Fitness & Rec in the grey menu bar. Select Recreation Programs, Aquatics.
Lifeguard and Swim Instructor jobs
For those with a love of instruction and dedication to safety, we have Lifeguard and Swim Instructor opportunities. Each location has different Swim Instructor and Lifeguard positions. Here are the qualifications for some of the most frequently recruited for positions:
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Senior Lifeguard
Education and Certifications:
- Current National Lifeguard Services (NLS) certification
- Current CPR and Standard First Aid certification
- An acceptable combination of education, training and experience will be considered
Experience:- In dealing with the public, including, but not limited to, children
- In performing lifeguard duties
- In cash handling
- In employee supervision
- In applying policies, procedures and applicable regulations
- In preparing and conducting/instructing aquatic training sessions
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Lifeguard
Education and Certifications:
- Current National Lifeguard Services (NLS) certification
- Current CPR and Standard First Aid certification
- An acceptable combination of education, training and experience will be considered
Experience:- In dealing with the public, including, but not limited to, children
- In performing lifeguard duties
- In cash handling
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Swim Instructor
Education and Certifications:
- Current recognized Swim Instructor certification
- Current Bronze Cross certification
- Current National Lifesaving Service (NLS) certification, an asset
- Current CPR and Standard First Aid certification
- An acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience
Experience:- In dealing with the public, including, but not limited to, children
- In the implementation of training and practice sessions
- In the development and implementation of individual training plans
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Swim Instructor/Lifeguard
Education and Certifications:
- Current National Lifeguard Service (NLS) certification
- Current CPR and Standard First Aid certification
- Current recognized Swim Instructor certification
- HIGH FIVE Principles of Healthy Child Development or HIGH FIVE Sport
- HIGH FIVE Healthy Minds for Healthy Children
- An acceptable combination of education, training and experience will be considered
Experience- In dealing with the public, including children
- In performing lifeguard duties
- In the implementation of training and practice sessions
- In the development and implementation of individual training plans
- In cash handling
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Junior Lifeguard
Education and Certifications:
- Current Bronze Cross certification
- Current National Lifeguard Service (NLS) certification, an asset
- Current CPR and Standard First Aid certification
- An acceptable combination of education, training and experience will be considered
Experience- In dealing with the public, including, but not limited to, children
- In lifeguarding
Supervisor and Coordinator jobs
For those with a love of Aquatics and program delivery, we have Supervisor and Coordinator opportunities.
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Aquatic Supervisor
- College diploma or certificate in Physical Sciences, or a related field AND some years of experience in aquatics or a related field
- An acceptable combination of education, training and experience will also be considered
- Current CPR and Standard First Aid certification
- Current National Lifeguard Service (NLS) certification
- Current recognized Swim Instructor certification
- HIGH FIVE Principles of Healthy Child Development or HIGH FIVE Sport
- HIGH FIVE Healthy Minds for Healthy Children
Experience- In evaluating, planning, preparing, organizing, and conducting the delivery of aquatic programs
- In instructing training sessions
- In employee supervision
- In applying policies, procedures and regulations
- In supervising the work of volunteers
- In cash handling
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Aquatic Coordinator
- Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education, Recreation, or in a related field AND some years of experience in aquatics and recreation administration
- College diploma or certificate in Physical Education, Recreation, or a related field, AND some years of experience in aquatics or in a related field
- High school diploma AND several years experience in a related field
- Current CPR and Standard First Aid Certification and Automated External Defibrillator
- Current National Lifeguard Service Certificate (NLS) qualifications
- Current Lifesaving Society Instructor Certification
- Current recognized Swim Instructor certification
Experience- In evaluating, planning, organizing and coordinating the delivery of aquatic programs
- In preparing and conducting physical aquatic programs
- In instructing aquatic training sessions
- In applying policies, procedures and regulations
- In personnel administration
- In budget administration
- In using software for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, e-mail, and Internet browsing
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Community Aquatics and Recreation Coordinator
- Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education, Recreation, Leisure Studies, or a related field
- College diploma or certificate in Sports Administration, Recreation Management, Leisure Services, or a related field, AND some years of experience in recreation administration, or in a related field
- Current CPR and Basic First Aid qualifications
- Current National Lifeguard Service Certificate (NLS) qualifications
- Current Lifesaving Society Advanced Instructor (Asset)
- Current Lifesaving Society Instructor Trainer (asset)
Experience- In planning and evaluating the operations and delivery of aquatic and recreation programs
- In applying policies, procedures, regulations, and applicable legislation
- In instructing aquatic training sessions
- In preparing and conducting physical aquatic programs
- In budget administration
- In personnel administration
- In pool management and maintenance
Applications
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The selection process
Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Primarily means of communication is by email so it is important to adjust your email privacy settings to accept emails from “@cfmws.recruitmail.com” and “@cfmws.com.”
The selection process consists of:- A review of qualifications (you may be asked to provide a copy of your certifications before the interview or the day of the interview)
- A skills assessment (may be required)
- An interview (you will be asked to explain your background, answer behavioral based questions based on our Shared Competencies and answer scenario questions that you may encounter)
- Reference check (an external candidate will be asked to provide the contact information for professional references)
- Security screening process (if selected for a position at CFMWS, you will be required to complete a Reliability Security Screening and a Vulnerable Sector Check).
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Apply to our General Application
Do not see a current opportunity? The General Application is a pool of candidates that we can search through for opportunities.
To apply:- Go to our career page at www.cfmws.ca/careers and scroll to the bottom of the page.
- Click on the General Application button.
- Fill out the application and include your cover letter and resume.
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Set up a career alert
Stay informed of job opportunities by setting up a career alert
By setting up a career alert, you can be notified by email when a job opportunity is posted that meets your criteria.
To create the career alert:
Step 1: Go to our career page at www.cfmws.ca/careers.
Step 2: Set up your search. For example, if you want to be notified of jobs at a particular location, with specific key words, or that belong to a functional area.
Step 3: Click on “Search”.
Step 4: Click on “Create job alert for this search”.
Step 5: Enter your email address, select the frequently you want to receive notifications and for what period of time.You can set up as many career alerts as you like. Within the email notification is the end date of the career alert. It is important to create a new career alert prior to the end date to ensure you do not miss out on any opportunities.
Testimonials
- Justin Garant, Aquatics Supervisor
- Lisa Small, Swim Instructor/Lifeguard
- Chloe Oldford, Lifeguard
- Sienna Lehtinen, Lifeguard
- Adrien Gonthier, Swim Instructor/Lifeguard


The camaraderie among the instructors is unmatched; we support one another and continuously strive to improve our skills to provide the best experience for our participants. I have truly enjoyed meeting new people, whether it’s teaching eager learners or connecting with fellow instructors who share the same passion for aquatics.
Being part of this team has not only enhanced my teaching abilities but has also enriched my life through the meaningful relationships I’ve built. I wholeheartedly recommend CFMWS for anyone looking to grow in an enthusiastic and supportive environment!

Lifeguarding is an incredible job! It allows me to interact with families and others who share a passion for the water. Helping people when they need it and teaching safety in aquatic environments is truly fulfilling.
At PSP, personal growth is encouraged, with opportunities to take on different leadership roles and meet a diverse range of individuals. We participate in in-services that help us maintain our fitness and guarding standards, ensuring we are always improving our skills and qualifications.
I genuinely love working as a guard for PSP. The base is a safe and welcoming environment, filled with friendly staff who make it enjoyable to be there. I recently accepted a position with the Canadian Armed Forces-Regular Force, and I’m excited to continue working in this environment. I hope to return to lifeguarding with PSP at my next posting.
It’s difficult to fully express how rewarding lifeguarding is; you truly become part of a family when you join this community. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone and everyone—it's never too late to dive in!


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Justin Garant, Aquatics Supervisor
Working with the PSP aquatics team is very stimulating. Contributing to water safety and the well-being of military personnel, their families and the general public is also extremely rewarding. The PSP aquatics team is a big team made up of many individuals who pool their knowledge to rise to the top. Within the aquatic team, diversity is welcomed with open arms to foster a healthy and sustainable working climate.
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Lisa Small, Swim Instructor/Lifeguard
I am thrilled to share my experience working as a swimming instructor and lifeguard with the incredible Aquatics team at CFMWS! From day one, I felt welcomed into a vibrant community dedicated to promoting water safety and fostering a love for swimming.
The camaraderie among the instructors is unmatched; we support one another and continuously strive to improve our skills to provide the best experience for our participants. I have truly enjoyed meeting new people, whether it’s teaching eager learners or connecting with fellow instructors who share the same passion for aquatics.
Being part of this team has not only enhanced my teaching abilities but has also enriched my life through the meaningful relationships I’ve built. I wholeheartedly recommend CFMWS for anyone looking to grow in an enthusiastic and supportive environment! -
Chloe Oldford, Lifeguard
Hello! I’m Chloe Oldford from Gander, Newfoundland, and I've been lifeguarding since 2018. My passion for the water started during my childhood swimming lessons, and I have always enjoyed helping others. When I turned 16, I realized that lifeguarding was the perfect fit for me. Since then, I’ve developed my skills and taken on various aquatic leadership roles, including swimming instructor and Lifesaving Instructor.
Lifeguarding is an incredible job! It allows me to interact with families and others who share a passion for the water. Helping people when they need it and teaching safety in aquatic environments is truly fulfilling.
At PSP, personal growth is encouraged, with opportunities to take on different leadership roles and meet a diverse range of individuals. We participate in in-services that help us maintain our fitness and guarding standards, ensuring we are always improving our skills and qualifications.
I genuinely love working as a guard for PSP. The base is a safe and welcoming environment, filled with friendly staff who make it enjoyable to be there. I recently accepted a position with the Canadian Armed Forces-Regular Force, and I’m excited to continue working in this environment. I hope to return to lifeguarding with PSP at my next posting.
It’s difficult to fully express how rewarding lifeguarding is; you truly become part of a family when you join this community. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone and everyone—it's never too late to dive in! -
Sienna Lehtinen, Lifeguard
Working for CFMWS has been an incredible journey for my development as a lifeguard. This position has not only equipped me with essential lifesaving skills but has also fostered personal growth and professional resilience. The continuous training opportunities and support from my team have allowed me to push my physical and mental boundaries, enhancing my ability to respond in high-pressure situations with confidence. Being part of a community that values both safety and personal development has motivated me to set higher standards for myself, and I am grateful for the chance to contribute positively to our community and the CFMWS mission.
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Adrien Gonthier, Swim Instructor/Lifeguard
Working for PSP has given me the opportunity to meet many people who share my interests. Aside from promoting fitness and sport, this job allows me to have a flexible schedule that supports both my physical activities and my studies!