Working to prevent drowning and water-related injury.
The Lifesaving Society is a full-service provider of programs, products and services designed to prevent drowning. We save lives and prevent water-related injury through our training programs, Water Smart public education, drowning research, aquatic safety management and lifesaving sport.
We are a national volunteer organization and registered charity composed of ten provincial/territorial branches, tens of thousands of individual members, and over 4,000 affiliated swimming pools, waterfronts, schools and clubs.
The Lifesaving Society is a leader and partner in the delivery of water safety education throughout Canada and around the world. (The Society operates globally in over 25 countries.) We represent Canada in the Commonwealth Royal Life Saving Society and we are Canada’s Full Member in the International Life Saving Federation. The Lifesaving Society takes lead responsibility for drowning prevention in Canada.
We have been teaching swimming, water safety and water rescue in Canada since 1896. Established in England (1891) as The Swimmers’ Life Saving Society, we became The Royal Life Saving Society in 1904. Today, we are known as simply the Lifesaving Society.
Teaching Canadians to save themselves and rescue others
Annually, over 1.2 million Canadians participate in our swimming, lifesaving, lifeguard, first aid and leadership programs. Each year, we certify thousands of instructors who provide the leadership for our training programs. Over 30,000 Canadians earn our Bronze Medallion each year. As Canada’s lifeguarding experts, we set the standard for lifeguard training and certify Canada’s National Lifeguards.
Making Canadians Water Smart®
The Lifesaving Society focuses Water Smart drowning prevention efforts on people most at risk – like men fishing in small boats – or on those who can make a significant difference, such as parents of young children. We deliver Water Smart messages through our swim program, through the media and community action. Our Swim to Survive® program provides the essential minimum skills required to survive an unexpected fall into deep water.
Drowning research
The Lifesaving Society conducts research into fatal and non-fatal drowning, aquatic injury and rescue interventions. Ongoing research and analysis supports the Society’s evidence-based water-rescue training and Water Smart drowning prevention education.
Setting the standard
The Lifesaving Society establishes aquatic safety standards and consults on aquatic safety issues for the aquatic industry, governments and the judiciary. The Society offers a suite of services to help aquatic facility operators maintain and improve safe pool and waterfront operations. We perform aquatic safety audits and serve as experts in legal cases involving aquatic safety.
Lifesaving sport
The Lifesaving Society is the Canadian governing body for lifesaving sport – a sport recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the Commonwealth Games Federation. We use lifesaving sport to engage and inspire youth in our drowning prevention mission. Our Lifesaving Sport Fundamentals program offers a recreational introduction to lifesaving sport skills. Age-group, senior and masters athletes compete regionally, provincially, nationally and internationally. We offer certification programs for officials and coaches.
® Lifesaving Society, Water Smart, Swim to Survive, Swim for Life and National Lifeguard Service are registered trademarks of the Royal Life Saving Society Canada.
Registered Charity No. 10809 7270 RR0001.
All donations gratefully received. Tax receipts issued for donations of $20 or more.