Bronze Medallion & Emergency First Aid (BM & EFA)
January 31 - February 21, 2026
Embark on your lifesaving journey with our Bronze Medallion Course, designed for both beginners and those looking to enhance their aquatic skills. This course focuses on developing essential lifesaving techniques, including tows, carries, and defense methods. Participants will also work on stroke efficiency and endurance, highlighted by a 400m timed swim. This course is open to YMCA members and non-members alike.
Highlights:
- Develop fundamental lifesaving skills
- Learn tows, carries, and defense techniques
- Improve stroke efficiency through a 400m timed swim
- Open to YMCA members and non-members
Benefits:
- Gain confidence in water safety and rescue skills
- Prepare for more advanced lifesaving courses
Course Requirements
- 13 years of age by the start of the course
- Bronze Medallion is a prerequisite for assistant lifeguard training in Bronze Cross (need not be current)
Bronze Cross (BC)
March 7 - March 28, 2026
Take the next step in your lifesaving training with our Bronze Cross Course. Building on the skills acquired in the Bronze Medallion Course, this program focuses on advanced rescue techniques and includes a 400m timed swim to enhance endurance. It serves as a prerequisite for those looking to pursue National Lifeguard and Instructor certification. This course is open to both YMCA members and non-members, offering comprehensive training for anyone interested in aquatic supervision and safety.
Highlights:
- Advanced rescue techniques and safety protocols
- 400m timed swim to improve endurance
- Prerequisite for National Lifeguard and Instructor certification
- Open to YMCA members and non-members
Benefits:
- Strengthen your lifesaving abilities
- Prepare for advanced training and certification programs
Course Requirements
- 13 years of age by the start of the course or Bronze Star Certification (need not be current)
- Bronze Medallion is a prerequisite for assistant lifeguard training in Bronze Cross (need not be current)
Lifesaving Instructor & First Aid Instructor
December 18 - December 22, 2025
This comprehensive leadership training program prepares participants to become certified instructors under the Lifesaving Society – New Brunswick branch. Graduates will not be qualified to teach and evaluate both lifesaving-awards programs and workplace standard first aid courses. The dual-focus of this course equips you with the knowledge, technical skills, instructional methods and leadership competencies needed to deliver high-quality training in both aquatic lifesaving and first-aid settings.
Program Requirements
- You must be 15+ years of age
- Completion of Bronze Cross (need not be current)
- Standard First Aid (need not be current)
✨ Employment Scholarship Program Already completed your Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross courses? We offer an Employment Scholarship Program to help you become a certified Swim Instructor with flexible work options!
For more information, contact Isaiah at I.Richards@saintjohny.ca.
Click here to see Swim Insructor Journey.
National Lifeguard Certification
January 11 - March 8
Course Requirements
- 15+ Years
- Bronze Cross Certification
- Standard First Aid (Does not need to be current)
National Lifeguard certification is Canada’s professional lifeguard standard. National Lifeguard training develops a sound understanding of lifeguarding principles, good judgment, and a mature and responsible attitude towards the lifeguard’s role. National Lifeguard training emphasizes prevention and effective rescue response in emergencies including first-aid treatment. Candidates develop teamwork, leadership and communication skills. Fitness requirements include a timed object recovery, 50-metre sprint challenge, 5-metre rescue drill and 400-metre endurance challenge.
Click here to see Lifeguard Journey.
National Lifeguard Instructor
December 27 - December 28, 2025
Course Requirements
- 15+ Years
- Nation Lifeguard cert (any option)
- Standard First Aid (Does not need to be current)
The National Lifeguard Instructor course prepares experienced lifeguards and instructors to teach and evaluate candidates in the National Lifeguard program—the professional standard for lifeguard training in Canada. This course focuses on the principles, practices, and instructional techniques that underpin effective National Lifeguard education. Participants learn how to plan, deliver, and evaluate National Lifeguard training using competency-based approaches and real-world scenarios.
Click here to see Lifeguard Journey.
Contact Us
For more information about our aquatic programs, reach out to our Aquatic
Supervisor at I.Richards@saintjohny.ca or call (506) 693-9622