Mayor Don Darling wants the city to review the costs of lifeguard staffing for public beaches in light of its financial situation.
Council awarded this summer’s contract to the Canada Games Aquatic Centre at a cost of $163,500.
They will provide lifeguard services seven days a week, from late June until Labour Day, at the Dominion Park, Lily Lake, Fisher Lakes and Little River Reservoir beaches.
Darling says by his estimation, the contract is costing taxpayers over $30 an hour, but he believes it’s the only option they have right now.
“I certainly would never want anyone to be in any kind of public harm,” says Darling, “but is it an option when mom and dad or others take kids to a beach that they have them fitted with a life preserver, that they watch them?”
Darling says his kids swam in many areas when they were younger where there were no lifeguards on hand.
He believes council previously took lifeguards off the beaches for a while, but it was a controversial decision.
