Events
The VLA has provided on the water safety and lifeguarding support for many events around greater Vancouver. If you have an event you would like first aid or lifeguards for, please contact:
Previous Events
T100 Triathalon
A multi-day event, with over 1,000 swimmers in the water each day. The T100 has one of the largest lifeguard support crews, with a 27-person lifeguarding team. VLA lifeguards provide on-water safety throughout the swim course, monitoring athletes, responding to emergencies, and assisting swimmers when needed. The event also reaches a global audience, with the T100 broadcast to over 190 countries and an average of approximately 6 million live viewers, showcasing Vancouver to audiences around the world.
Honda Celebration of Lights
The Vancouver Lifeguarding Association has proudly volunteered at the Honda Celebration of Light, helping provide medical and water-safety support during one of Vancouver’s largest annual events. With approximately 400,000 spectators gathering along the shores of English Bay and Kitsilano for each fireworks night, our lifeguards helped keep the event safe by providing first aid and medical response on land while also monitoring the water and assisting with water rescues and emergencies from paddleboards and rescue boats. This event highlights the important role our volunteer lifeguards play in supporting the safety of Vancouver’s community during large-scale events.
VOWSA Across the Bay
The Around the Bay Challenge is a 10 km open-water swim starting and finishing at Locarno Beach, taking swimmers around Vancouver’s waterfront through Kitsilano and English Bay. The VLA provides lifeguard support throughout the event, with lifeguards monitoring the course, assisting swimmers, and responding to emergencies in the water. With challenging tides, cooler ocean temperatures, and potentially rough conditions, the VLA plays an essential role in ensuring the safety of participants throughout the race.
SOBC Polar Plunge
The Polar Plunge is an annual fundraising event held at Kitsilano Beach in support of Special Olympics BC. Participants from across the community brave the cold Pacific waters to raise funds and awareness for athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The VLA provides water safety and lifeguarding support for the event, helping ensure participants can safely take the plunge while supporting this important cause. In 2025, Polar Plunge events across BC raised more than $350,000 for Special Olympics BC programs.
Vancouver Triathalon
The Vancouver Triathlon is one of Vancouver’s longest-running triathlon events, bringing hundreds of athletes to Stanley Park and English Bay each year. The event features open-water swims ranging from 750m to 3 km, followed by cycling through Stanley Park and a run along Vancouver’s scenic seawall. VLA lifeguards provide dedicated water safety throughout the swim, monitoring athletes, responding to swimmers in distress, and helping ensure a safe experience for participants of all abilities.
VOWSA Canada Day
The VOWSA Canada Day Challenge is an annual open-water swim held on Canada Day at Sasamat Lake, bringing swimmers together for a 1 km, 2 km, or 4 km challenge. The VLA provides lifeguard support throughout the event, with lifeguards positioned on the water to monitor swimmers, respond to emergencies, and ensure participants can safely complete their swims. As one of VOWSA’s signature annual races, the Canada Day Challenge showcases the importance of professional water safety in open-water swimming.
VOWSA Kits Challenge
The Kits Challenge is an annual open-water swimming event held at Kitsilano Beach, bringing swimmers of all abilities together to take on distances ranging from 750 m to 6 km, along with a 4 × 1.5 km relay. The VLA provides lifeguard support throughout the event, with lifeguards monitoring the course, assisting swimmers, and responding to emergencies in the water. With up to 250 swimmers participating, the VLA plays an important role in ensuring a safe and well-supported race in the waters of English Bay.
Coho Swim
The Coho Swim is a popular open-water swimming event held in North Vancouver, offering 1.5 km and 3 km courses for swimmers of varying abilities. The VLA provides lifeguard support throughout the event, with lifeguards monitoring swimmers on the course, responding to emergencies, and providing assistance when needed. As with all open-water events, the VLA plays a critical role in ensuring swimmers can safely take on the challenging waters of Burrard Inlet.
