Annual Reports
Each year, the Lifesaving Society publishes an Annual Report highlighting its key achievements, results and initiatives undertaken to advance its mission of preventing drowning and promoting water safety.
Serving as a comprehensive review of the year, the Annual Report reflects the dedication of our staff, volunteers, affiliated members, partners and everyone who contributes to our mission. It features major accomplishments, projects and initiatives, annual statistics, financial statements, governance activities, as well as an overview of the challenges and opportunities that shape our work.
More than an accountability exercise, the Annual Report is an important tool for transparency. It demonstrates the progress we have made, highlights the tangible impact of our initiatives and provides insight into how the resources entrusted to us are used to support our mission.
We invite you to explore our Annual Reports to discover the achievements that have marked each year of our organization and to gain a deeper understanding of the work being done to make aquatic and waterfront activities safer throughout Quebec.
Drowning remains one of the leading causes of preventable accidental death. Each year, the statistics remind us that the risks persist, often where they are least expected: among young children, older adults, newcomers to Canada, as well as adolescents and adults who overestimate their water competency. These realities are neither abstract nor distant. In 2025 alone, drowning claimed the lives of individuals from 61* families and left a lasting impact on communities across Quebec. Our approach to these findings is intentionally evidence-based, measured and solution-oriented. The goal is not to alarm, but to understand. To understand so we can take meaningful action. To understand so we can prevent future tragedies. The challenges continue to evolve. The growing popularity of open-water recreation, the effects of climate change on water conditions and the increasing diversity of recreational and sporting activities all require prevention messages that are relevant, grounded in evidence and guided by a long-term vision.
Read the 2025 Annual Report
*In French only
The year 2024 was one of growth, collaboration and achievement for the Lifesaving Society, marking another important milestone in our ongoing evolution. Following a concerning increase in drowning incidents in 2023, 2024 stood out for the tangible results that demonstrated the impact of our collective efforts and commitment. One of the year's most significant achievements was a notable decline in drownings, from 85* in 2023 to 59* in 2024. This return to pre-pandemic levels reflects the effectiveness of our public awareness campaigns and water safety education programs, including Swim for Life® and Swim to Survive®, among many others. Thanks to the dedication of our staff, the collaboration of aquatic professionals across Quebec and the invaluable support of our partners, we strengthened public awareness, promoted safer behaviours and expanded drowning prevention efforts throughout the province.
Read the 2024 Annual Report
*In French only
The year 2023 was one of consolidation and innovation for the Lifesaving Society, marking an important step forward in our continued growth. Following a year of emergence and renewal in 2022, 2023 was defined by resilience, expansion and innovation. Throughout the year, we witnessed a growing awareness of the importance of water safety within our communities, reinforcing the vital role our organization plays in drowning prevention. We expanded our efforts to reach broader audiences by strengthening our focus on education and training while building strategic partnerships to maximize our impact. These initiatives were instrumental in addressing the unique challenges of the year and advancing our mission through collaboration, resilience and innovation.
Read the 2023 Annual Report
*In French only
If one word could describe 2022,for both the Lifesaving Society and the people of Quebec, it would undoubtedly be emergence. It was a year of emergence because, for the first time since the Lifesaving Society was established in Canada, the Quebec Branch launched the Swim for Life® program and began offering a province-wide learn-to-swim program. In January 2022, the Canadian Red Cross announced that it would discontinue its swimming and lifesaving programs, encouraging all of its training partners to transition to the Lifesaving Society's Swim for Life®, lifesaving and leadership programs. Until then, the Quebec Branch had never introduced the Swim for Life® program in the province. This marked a significant milestone, requiring the program to be carefully adapted to Quebec's unique context and to the needs and expectations of aquatic facilities across the province.
Read the 2022 Annual Report
*In French only
Adaptation and resilience are the two words that best define 2021. Although the year often felt like a continuation of 2020, the Lifesaving Society and its Board of Directors are proud to recognize the dedication and accomplishments of our staff, volunteers, collaborators, partners, instructors, aquatic managers, lifeguards, swim instructors and trainers throughout another challenging year. The year began under difficult circumstances. Group sports and extracurricular activities remained suspended, provincial, national and international competitions were cancelled, and non-essential businesses, swimming pools, fitness centres and performance venues were closed. A province-wide curfew was also in effect from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. For many Quebecers, the first holiday season without family gatherings was especially difficult. Despite these challenges, there was reason for hope. Quebec's vaccination campaign, which had begun just weeks earlier, marked the beginning of a gradual path toward recovery and renewal.
Read the 2021 Annual Report
*In French only