December 18, 2025: Don't rely on others to do your work.
Good Morning,
I finished up our last Certified Pool Operator (CPO) class of the year yesterday in Banff, AB. It was even more picturesque than a normal trip because we woke up to 8" of fresh powder and whiteout conditions that made for two-handed driving in 4WD coming back to Calgary - even the airport closed for a few hours due to visibility.
I had a kickoff meeting for a new project, dropped off chocolates at recently concluded projects, and tried to pick up a few outstanding gifts because we are just ONE week away from Christmas. While I would normally consider myself very competent with a work back schedule, all bets are off in 2025. Each day is an adventure.
There will be no newsletter next week (December 24), and then we'll be back with a year-end review of 2025 the following week (December 31). However, today I wanted to share one of the most important framing tools or questions I've encountered this year: are you relying on others to do your work?
Whether you're a facilities director, aquatic programmer, maintenance person or lifeguard working two jobs to stay afloat, or anyone in between, everyone is busy. Adulting is hard, and we often have to look for shortcuts to get everything done in a day - not just at work, but in our home and personal lives, too.
That includes - for example - reading online reviews or relying on friend/family testimonials instead of reading detailed product specifications. That could also mean working with consultants, sales reps or other aquatic industry professionals and adopting their opinion wholesale as your own without any further investigation.
I'm not suggesting this is always wrong, but what I do want to clarify is that the if the final and permanent owner of the decision will be you, you can't rely (entirely) on others to do your work and understand the facility or project's needs.
In my kickoff meeting yesterday, we discussed that the next meeting would need to expand the scope of participants. In a normal new pool permit project, I work with just the facilities or aquatic director. Due to the scale of this project, we also need to include the spa director; the food & beverage director; head of housekeeping; and the operations director (or their designated representatives) because they will all have responsibility & deliverables for this large new, multi-use space with aquatic facilities.
Is a dropped smoothie on the pool deck a housekeeping or spa attendant responsibility? Is making sure the smoothie vessel isn't glass a food & beverage or facilities responsibility? I'm not suggesting one department can't trust another department to do the work, but span of control, roles & responsibility and accountability (who owns the decision or the outcome) need to be clearly identified at the start, i.e. we can't rely on other people to do OUR job.
Most of the bad decisions I've seen recently come from situations where someone relied on someone else without clearly articulating or acknowledging that reliance. Incomplete information becomes the basis for bad decisions with epic financial and operational consequences. Pay attention to where you might be placing undue reliance on other people in work scenarios where you are the owner of the outcome.
ICYMI, the 2026 Certified Pool Operator (CPO) class schedule is posted and open for registration in case you have any leftover budget dollars in 2025.
Most of the CPO classes are virtual, however if you would like to host a semi-private class for your team with a few public registrations (to meet our class minimum) please reply to this email.
Everything else you might want to know from the last seven days...
Inquest finds teenager accidently drowned in quarry
Some of you will recall my interview with Beckie, the founder of Doing it for Dylan. She's made it her life's work to memorialize her son via water safety education, including quarry drowning fatalities.
State board takes action against football coach after student athlete drowned at Show Low Lake
"The coaches took the students to the lake "without prior authorization or permission from District or School administration," according to the education board, and allowed the students to swim despite a "No Swimming" sign."
Kayaker who staged drowning on Green Lake, Ryan Borgwardt, released from custody
Respectfully, $30,000 in restitution to cover law-enforcement and search costs is not enough restitution for people like Keith Cormican from Bruce's Legacy who spent days looking for this guy.
Man in wheelchair found drowned in Pompano Beach pool, authorities say
Wild Waves Theme Park announces final season, closing doors after nearly 50 years of fun
This water park opened in 1977, so I wonder if there are safety or water quality/operational upgrades that are cost prohibitive at this stage?
2nd person charged with reckless homicide in connection to Marinette teen’s drowning
"Birch, along with the co-actor, had actually thrown the victim into the water after the victim has expressed he didn’t want to go in, especially there."
Parents sue after UC Berkeley frat party drowning death
Plea hearing today for former swimming coach on sexual assault, abuse charges
Occupational violence and aggression in public aquatic facilities
If you're also experiencing a spike in violence/aggression towards aquatic staff at your facility, the downloadable PDF from Royal Life Saving Australia is great ammunition that more resources need to be allocated by your organization before it's too late.
Written policy on disconnecting from work
This is old news in Ontario, but I just recently discovered this policy & thought others might benefit from it.
New rules on sick notes eliminate unnecessary paperwork
At my first lifeguard job from 2005 - 2008, you couldn't miss work due to sickness without a note. That caused us all to work sick & make each other sick. The Pandemic introduced an element of sanity to not adjudicating employee health that is slowing being clawed back by some employers. Kudos to BC for removing an unnecessary burden on our already fragile health care system.
About 900 people on waitlist for City of Regina swimming lessons due to pool capacity issues
The city has a population of 241,000 people.
Kingston accelerates plan for new $102m aquatics centre
California’s Newest Wave Pool Is Opening Soon (First Look)
They already know people are questioning the appropriateness of this type of facility in a state plagued by drought when they lead with the statistic “24 million gallons[of water] is roughly equivalent to just 1.3 holes of golf.”
Cheyenne Aquatics Division to host Holiday Lights Splash Night
The weather outside is frightful, but the pool water at Splash is delightful
Researchers call for water safety to be part of English education for migrants
Jurors shaken by video of drowning girl in Brassart trial
I've been following this case because I have so many outstanding questions. Yes, she's responsible for supervising her daughter, but what physical factors are in place - like it says in the article her wheelchair could not go outside by the pool - contributed to this tragedy?
Icelandic Swimming Pool Culture Added To UNESCO List
New research proves bone density does not determine who floats
YMCA of the USA Launches 'No Place Like This Place' Campaign
In case you don't follow us on Facebook:
Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, the Winter Solstice or something else, I hope you get to enjoy some time off work with friends & family before the end of the year. Or - if you are working - thank you for taking one for the team so others can enjoy some time away from the pool.
See you in two weeks.
Katie Crysdale
Lakeview Aquatic Consultants Ltd.
The audio version of last week's newsletter is here.