ORFA
PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS
The ORFA, in partnership with the Canadian Red Cross – Ontario Zone has created this new designation in response to the training needs of members who work in aquatic facilities.
To qualify for this designation, a practitioner must successfully complete the following three courses: Essentials of Swimming Pool Operations; Aquatic Facility Operations-Beyond the Basics; and Aquatic Program Administration. In addition, the practitioner must have a minimum Grade 12 education, be a member of the ORFA; maintain current WHMIS and Standard First Aid/CPR-Level C training; and have a minimum 24 months related aquatic facility work experience.
This Canadian Red Cross course will take your aquatic management skills to a new level. With the increasing demands from your patrons and regulatory sectors, it is important that the aquatic manager of today has a clear understanding of current situations and trends. We will use group work, role play and brainstorming to raise your awareness of your role in the facility. Keeping your community informed plays a key role in meeting your vision and offering programs with set standards and ensuring successful outcomes to meet community needs. During this course, we will focus on key components of an excellent aquatic program administrator: people, self, organization, customers and tasks.
Topics include:
Know Your Community
- Who is your audience? What is your target market?
- Demographics
- Development, distribution, and analysis of needs assessment, feasibility studies
Program Planning
- How to plan your programs for the optimum use of your facility
- Offering the appropriate programs at the appropriate times
- Prime time vs. Quiet Time
- Special Events, user groups, rentals
Marketing and Advertising
- Marketing and advertising strategies
- Development and features of brochures, flyers, and bulletin boards
- Evaluation of strategies – what’s most effective
Risk Management
- Volunteer and staff risks and prevention
- Evaluation and auditing tools
- In-service training obligations
- Policy manual and standards of practice
- Aquatic legislation – Health Protection and Promotion Act, TSSA
- Occupational workplace requirements
Customer Service
- Effective communication skills
- Listening skills – what do they want/need
- Role play scenarios
This course is in response to frequent requests from our members, and others involved in aquatic facility operations, to provide a concise, professional development opportunity encompassing the essentials of operating a public swimming pool in Ontario.
This course does not certify participants in the operation of aquatic facilities. However, it will provide critical information on what is recognized to be necessary knowledge for practitioners and employers to operate their aquatic facility safely, efficiently, effectively and in full compliance with applicable legislation. It will also provide a solid base for those who wish to continue their professional development in the aquatics field.
Topics include:
- Pool construction and design
- Legislation affecting aquatic facilities
- Pool circulation and filtration
Water treatment, disinfection and testing
- Microbiology and infection control
- Safety of staff and public
- Legal awareness and risk management
This course is taught using a combination of classroom-based study and some hands-on training. Participants are expected to be able to return to their workplace and utilize the skills and knowledge they have learned in the course.
Designed for the operator who has completed the Essentials of Swimming Pool Operations course, or similar course, and who has practical, on-the-job experience, this course will provide participants with an advanced study of aquatic facility operations. It will further investigate the components of the circulation system, types of filtration, comparisons of efficiency and maintenance requirements, filter area, flow rates, and how these specifications result in selection for the application. Also, the course will explore circulation pump design, pump curves and how pump selection is determined. Water heaters will also be examined.
Water treatment and disinfection will involve a hands-on component of testing, analysis and application of the Saturation Index as a case study. Chlorination disinfection and safety will be discussed in depth along with consideration of alternative disinfecting methods, including ozone and ultra violet, and how current legislation impacts their application.
Seasonal operations, and the special requirements for outdoor facilities, will be covered, including best practices for winterizing and re-opening the facility. Also, indoor air quality concerns, challenges and best practices will be examined and discussed.
This course is taught using a combination of classroom-based study and some hands-on training. Participants are expected to be able to return to their workplace and utilize the skills and knowledge they have learned in the course.
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