Bronze Medallion and Basic First Aid with CPR-C & AED (21 hr): This is the first required course to become a Lifeguard. You can take Bronze Star before this course, but it's not required. Participants will develop an understanding of lifesaving principles and learn valuable skills needed to be successful in an aquatic emergency. Basic First Aid is for people who want a general knowledge of first aid principles and the emergency treatment of injuries, recognized by Ontario's Workplace Safety & Insurance Board.
Prerequisites: 13 years of age by the last day of the course or Bronze Star certification (need not be current)
Required Materials: Canadian Lifesaving Manual (available as an add-on during registration).
Required Materials: Canadian First Aid Manual 2026 edition (available as an add-on during registration).
Physical Requirements:
1a. Swim 25 m or yd. each of: front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke.1b. Swim 25 m or yd. each of: head-up front crawl, head-up breaststroke.1c. Swim 25 m or yd. each of: whip kick, eggbeater, scissor kick or inverted scissor kick.2. Demonstrate recovery of an unconscious victim from deep water: surface and carry victim to a point of safety 5 m distant.3. Enter the water and swim head-up 25 m or yd. to contact a passive victim or manikin located at the surface and carry 25 m or yd.4. Endurance challenge: Swim 400 m within 12 minutes (400 yd. within 11 minutes).
Verification of Identity Policy
All candidates; whether original or recertification, must verify their identity to the instructor. Original, copy, or digital copies of identification are accepted.
The Lifesaving Society Ontario (the ""Society"") requires that the candidates legal name must appear on all certifications it issues. Candidates may also provide a preferred name, which may be displayed on the certification if requested; however, it does not replace the legal name.
Important: The last day of this course includes the exam and feedback session, which may extend slightly past the scheduled end time.

The McDonald Family YMCA Centre of Community is a dynamic community hub in the heart of downtown Toronto. We offer programs for adults, teens, children and families of all ages and abilities including fitness, aquatics, camping, youth leadership, recreational sports, children's programs, and more.