Information Bulletin

Teaching Swimming in Backyard Pools

June 1, 2020

Dear Members and Supporters,
 
Over the past couple of years, we have received many questions about teaching lessons in backyard pools.
 
In 2018 Lifesaving Society Manitoba received notification from Manitoba Public Health that running swimming lessons, for profit, in backyard swimming pools was permitted only if those pools obtained a permit, and operated in accordance with the requirements of the Manitoba Public Health Act: Swimming Pools and Other Recreational Water Facilities Regulation.  A notification to all of our members occurred at that time through our Lifelines newsletter.
 
We provided an update on this topic in our COVID-19 Information Update of May 20, 2020, as Manitoba Public Health provided notification that this policy was still in effect during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Restoring Safe Services: Phase 2 plan indicated that private backyard pools were not restricted.  In order to clarify what the language meant, we inquired through the EngageMB website whether an individual could be paid to teach swimming lessons in a backyard pool, and the following response was provided:
 
“The statement in Phase Two that private residential pools are not restricted refers to personal use of private residential pools.  The Phase Two guidelines do not supersede the requirement for a permit and compliance with all regulatory requirements in order to conduct swimming lessons.”
 
This information may be found on the EngageMB website under the Q&A list for Phase 2 by using the search terms “swimming” or “pool”:
 
Anyone interested in obtaining further information about this specific topic is encouraged to contact their local Public Health Inspector by following this link.

A downloadable copy of this memo may be obtained from our website.

Kathy Plett
Program Coordinator
Lifesaving Society Manitoba