Two City of Peterborough Lifeguards Receive Rescue Awards of Merit

Two lifeguards with the City of Peterborough were honoured with Rescue Awards of Merit from Lifesaving Society Ontario during a ceremony Tuesday.

file photo.

Avery Fam and Tessa Kitchen, both lifeguards and swim instructors at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, received the awards in recognition of their life-saving actions while off duty.

On Oct. 6, 2025, Fam noticed an individual lying on the grass near the parking lot of the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre. After checking the individual, she determined they were not breathing. Fam immediately ran into the facility to call 9-1-1 and retrieve a first aid kit before returning to begin CPR. 

Kitchen, who was arriving at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, noticed Fam providing assistance to the individual and quickly joined her. After CPR was administered, the individual began breathing again. 

Both lifeguards continued to provide first aid until paramedics arrived. The individual was transported to hospital and survived the incident. 

“We are incredibly proud of these two off-duty lifeguards whose quick thinking, training and selflessness saved a life when it mattered most,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “Their actions are a powerful reminder that the skills our lifeguards carry don’t end when their shift does. On behalf of City Council and the community, I congratulate Avery and Tessa on receiving Lifesaving Society Ontario’s Rescue Award of Merit and thank them for exemplifying the very best of public service.” 

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City of Peterborough Releases 2024 Lifeguard Training Program Details

The City of Peterborough will conduct staff training for this summer’s lifeguard program from June 25 to 28 at Beavermead and Rogers Cove beaches ahead of seasonal lifeguard supervision.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CITY OF PETERBOROUGH.

Additional in-service training will occur every Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. from July 3 to Aug. 21.

All staff will adhere to provincial health and lifesaving society guidelines for training. Members of the public are asked to give them space to complete their training safely.

City of Peterborough’s lifeguard program runs from June 29 until Aug. 25 with lifeguards at Beavermead and Rogers Cove beaches seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Beavermead beach has an access mat in place from June 29 until August 25. The mat provides a stable surface across the sand into the water, improving accessibility for everyone.

Peterborough Public Health monitors the water quality at our beaches from June until the end of August and posts the reports online. When lifeguards are present, a flag or sign at the beaches indicates the water quality status. For more information on water quality reporting at the public beaches, please contact Peterborough Public Health at 705-743-1000.

Lifeguards supervise the City’s four wading pools from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week, from June 29 until Aug. 25. The wading pools are small, shallow pools for children up to about eight years old. Children must be accompanied by an adult when using the wading pools.

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City of Peterborough 2023 Lifeguard Training Program Details Announced

The City of Peterborough will be conducting staff training for this summer’s lifeguard program from June 27 to 30 at Beavermead and Rogers Cove beaches.

photo courtesy of the city of peterborough.

Additional staff in-service training will be conducted weekly every Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at both beaches, starting July 5 until August 23, 2023. 

All staff will be adhering to provincial health and lifesaving society guidelines for training. Members of the public are asked to give them space to safely complete their training. 

Beaches 

City of Peterborough’s lifeguard program runs from July 1 until August 27, with lifeguards at Beavermead and Rogers Cove beaches seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Beavermead has a beach access mat in place from July 1 until August 27 that provides a stable surface across the sand into the water, improving accessibility for everyone. 

Peterborough Public Health monitors the water quality at our beaches from June until the end of August and posts the water quality reports online. A flag or sign at the beaches also to indicates the status of the water quality when lifeguards are present. For more information on water quality reporting at the public beaches, please contact Peterborough Public Health at 705-743-1000. 

Wading pools 

Lifeguards supervise the City’s four wading pools from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week, beginning July 1 until August 27. The wading pools are small, shallow pools for young children up to about eight years old. Children need to be accompanied by an adult when using the wading pools.  

Full details about locations and hours of City-operated beaches, wading pools and splashpads are online.

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Peterborough Beaches And Wading Pools To Be Monitored As Of June 25

The City of Peterborough will be conducting staff training for this summer’s lifeguard program from June 21 to 24 at Beavermead and Rogers Cove beaches.

File Photo.

All staff will be adhering to provincial health and lifesaving society guidelines for training. Members of the public are asked to give them space to safely complete their training.

Beaches

Lifeguards will monitor both beaches seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. from June 25 until August 28.

Beavermead has a beach access mat in place from June 25 until August 28 that provides a stable surface across the sand into the water, improving accessibility for everyone.

Peterborough Public Health monitors the water quality at our beaches from June until the end of August and posts the water quality reports online. A flag or sign at the beaches also to indicates the status of the water quality when lifeguards are present. For more information on water quality reporting at the public beaches, please contact Peterborough Public Health at 705-743-1000.

Wading pools

Lifeguards supervise the City’s four wading pools from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week, beginning June 25 until August 28. The wading pools are small, shallow pools for young children up to about eight years old. Children need to be accompanied by an adult when using the wading pools.

City splash pads

Splash pads operate form 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The City’s lifeguard program does not cover splash pads because water in splash pads does not pool or pose a drowning risk. Adult supervision is required for young children.

Full details about lifeguard program are online at www.peterborough.ca/splash.

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Wading Pools In Peterborough Open June 27th

With more hot weather on the way, it is welcome news for many that wading pools in City of Peterborough parks will open for the season on Saturday, June 27th with lifeguard supervision from noon to 4:30 p.m., seven days a week.

The City has four supervised wading pools in the community:

• Knights of Columbus Park, at Park Street and Lake Street

• Turner Park, at High Street and Chamberlain Street

• Chelsea Gardens Park, at Southlawn Drive and Severn Road

• John Taylor Memorial Park, at McKellar Street and St. Catherine Street

Photo courtesy City of Peterborough

The wading pools are small, shallow pools for young children up to about eight years of age. Parents need to accompany their children to the wading pools. Children cannot be left unattended.

“Lifeguards will be on site," says Councillor Lesley Parnell, Chair of Arenas, Parks and Recreation. "Families seeking summer fun are asked to use their discretion and respect social distancing.“  

Lifeguards also start at Beavermead and Rogers Cove beaches on June 27th with supervision from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The lifeguards are focused on water safety, and they are not responsible for ensuring physical distancing, the City of Peterborough says in a media release.

Playgrounds in all City parks remain closed in compliance with the current Province of Ontario Emergency Order directive.

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