A youth lifeguard was assaulted at Cole Harbour Place after a Halifax woman allegedly took issue with the rules at the pool. Photo by Ryan TaplinArticle contentCole Harbour Place says it’s shutting down its pool earlier than usual for the next week after a teenaged lifeguard was assaulted Monday night.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentIn a post on its website Tuesday, the facility said that “due to an incident involving police that occurred yesterday evening, and in the interest of staff safety, the pool will be closing earlier than usual on select evenings over the next week.”Article contentArticle contentArticle contentGeneral manager Jen Heddon said Tuesday afternoon that the lifeguard was assaulted by one of the pool users while on the pool deck.Article content“It seemed the patron was not happy with some of the rules that we have,” Heddon said.Article contentShe said the teen wasn’t badly hurt but was shaken up and assessed by a medical professional.Article contentOther staff and security who were on scene intervened and police were called. The suspect tried to leave and was arrested by RCMP on the property.Article contentStaff, security being reviewedArticle contentEvening swims are canceled this week while staffing levels and security levels are reassessed “to ensure that we have additional safety measures in place for those staff because our lifeguards are primarily youth,” Heddon said. “We want to make sure they feel safe when they go back to working those evening shifts.”Article contentShe that will involve additional lifeguards and additional security staff in the building.Article contentArticle content“We just need some time to co-ordinate that and make sure everyone is in place,” Heddon said.Article contentThat will mean additional costs to Cole Harbour Place but won’t mean any change to program pricing this year.Article content“Our budget this year is set, but potentially next fiscal year there may be changes depending on what that looks like long term,” Heddon said.Article contentThe woman who assaulted the lifeguard will be banned from Cole Harbour Place.Article contentAssault chargeArticle contentRCMP spokeswoman Const. Mandy Edwards said police were called at 8:20 p.m. and arrested a suspect as they were leaving the property.Article contentAn 18-year-old Halifax woman has been charged with assault. She was released and placed on conditions pending her first appearance in Dartmouth provincial court.Article contentIn May, the facility closed its saunas because of a variety of concerns, including medical emergencies, misuse that was posing a fire risk and patrons engaging in “sexual misconduct.” It said staff and lifeguards were frequently having to assist people experiencing overheating or other medical issues related to the use and misuse of the saunas, and people were putting water on the heating elements, creating a fire hazard.Article contentThere had also been multiple reports of sexually inappropriate behaviour that the facility said at the time were part of a “concerning and ongoing pattern.”Article content
Lifeguard allegedly assaulted at Cole Harbour Place pool, security under review
