The High Prairie Regional Aquatic Centre received two service awards from the Canadian Red Cross from the Alberta branch. Accepting the awards Oct. 5 in Edmonton are Seth Petersen, Operations and Maintenance of the Aquatic Centre, left, and Aquatic Centre manager Ginger Petersen.

Richard Froese
South Peace News

The High Prairie Regional Aquatic Centre has received two provincial awards from the Canadian Red Cross for training more staff and teaching more lessons.
Awards were presented for Largest Programming Growth for 2015-16 and for Highest Sales in Swimming and Water Safety for Municipalities under-5,000 population, at a ceremony Oct. 5 in Edmonton.
“Both awards reflect our huge increase in offering water safety instructor courses,” says aquatic manager Ginger Petersen.
The High Prairie and District Regional Recreation Board is delighted with the awards.
“I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of our aquatic staff,” say interim recreation director Lori Matthews.
“These awards are the result of a co-ordinated effort by management and instructors.”
Petersen became a certified trainer for water safety instructors from a course she completed in March 2015 with funding and support from recreation board.
Since then, she has taught 10 water safety instructor courses in High Prairie for participants from the local area and Falher, Valleyview, Peace River, and Grande Prairie.
“Now we have 13 trained water safety instructors,” says Peter- sen, who has served in her management role since October 2015.
“Having the ability to train here has made it possible to have reliable and well-trained staff.”
Before she was certified, local aquatic staff had to get the training out of town. It cost the recreation board much extra time and money.
As a result of the local training, she says it enables her to know what instructors can do to improve their knowledge, even after they are certified.
“I’m grateful for the instructors we have,” Petersen says.
“They’re so conscientious and quick to accept suggestions for improvement.
“They continue to do an excellent job to teach children the life-saving skills of swimming,” she adds.
More than 760 children have participated in lessons this year, she says.
“I know it’s a great increase from last year.”
The pool provides community and school lessons for children in High Prairie and all surrounding areas.