The administration in Ashcroft is starting to sweat, as the village is facing the possibility of not being able to open its local pool this summer.
The reason: A lack of lifeguards.
Ashcroft Mayor Barbara Roden suggests the normally steady stream of younger people who used the pool — then would subsequently train as lifeguards — got caught up in the pandemic.
“My own theory is that what happened there during two or three years of COVID is that a link in the chain just kind of got yanked out,” surmised Roden. “A lot of younger people who might have taken their lifeguard training just didn’t have that opportunity.”
Roden says the Village is now looking at incentives to try to entice lifeguards to the community, including paying for their certification, as well as other steps within their control.
“We would certainly be happy to help people find accommodation for the summer. If they don’t live too far away, they can commute to Ashcroft,” said Roden. “We’re happy to look at anyone from anywhere.”
She notes if they can’t, the local pool might only have limited openings this summer — or may not open at all.
The community pool in Ashcroft, where temperatures during the summer months can sometimes hit 40 degrees, normally operates daily from the May long weekend until Labour Day.