Paramedics Union Raises Safety Concerns Over Lifeguard Cuts at Vancouver Beaches

For Immediate Release

Paramedics Union Raises Safety Concerns Over Lifeguard Cuts at Vancouver Beaches

VANCOUVER, BC – April 21, 2026 – The Ambulance Paramedics and Emergency Dispatchers of BC (CUPE Local 873) is raising concerns about the City of Vancouver’s decision to reduce lifeguard services at public beaches, warning the move introduces avoidable risk to public safety and will increase pressure on an already strained emergency response system.

From a first responder perspective, lifeguards are a critical part of frontline care. They provide immediate intervention in high-risk environments where seconds matter and outcomes are often determined before paramedics can arrive.

“In emergencies like drowning or cardiac arrest, early intervention can be the difference between life and death,” said Jason Jackson, President of the Ambulance Paramedics and Emergency Dispatchers of BC. “Lifeguards are often the first link in the chain of survival. Removing them creates a gap that cannot be replaced once a call is made.”

The union notes that lifeguards also play a key role in managing lower acuity incidents, treating injuries, and stabilizing patients on scene. Without that presence, more situations will escalate into 911 calls, placing additional demand on paramedics and contributing to emergency department congestion.

Lifeguards bring specialized expertise in aquatic rescue and operate as part of a coordinated public safety network alongside paramedics, fire, and police. Their reduction weakens that system at a time when demand for services continues to grow.

The union also highlights the ongoing toxic drug crisis, noting that public spaces, including beaches, are not immune. Lifeguards are often first on scene for overdoses, providing critical early care before paramedics arrive.

“This is a public safety decision with real system impacts,” Jackson added. “If you remove trained responders from high-risk environments, that pressure does not disappear. It shifts directly onto paramedics, hospitals, and the public.”

With Vancouver’s beaches among the busiest public spaces during the summer months, the union is calling on the City to reconsider the cuts and restore lifeguard services.

For more information, email media@apbc.ca or visit www.apbc.ca.