About Swim Life Magazine

Cheryl Sibany – Biography

Cheryl Sibany is a highly seasoned professional with extensive expertise in safety, risk management, and staff supervision within aquatic and recreation settings. Her distinguished career includes leadership roles such as Manager of Safety Services and Sport at the Lifesaving Society BC & Yukon Branch and Chief Auditor for the Society's Ontario Branch, where she successfully led large-scale aquatic safety audits. Cheryl organized and directed comprehensive safety audits for pools, beaches, and summer camps, delivering detailed reports with actionable recommendations to enhance safety, promote best practices, and ensure regulatory compliance.

Cheryl's expertise extends to consulting on inquest reports in British Columbia and Ontario, and she contributed to developing National Aquatic Safety Standards as a member of the Lifesaving Society's National Safety Commission. Her deep understanding of aquatic safety is further reflected in her role as a Lifesaving Society Chief Auditor and Aquatic Safety Inspector, where she has been instrumental in ensuring that facilities adhere to the highest safety and compliance standards.

Throughout her career, Cheryl managed various aquatic and recreation facilities in both public and private sectors, overseeing critical areas such as staff management, budgeting, and operational safety. Her accomplishments in these roles included revising management procedures, retraining staff across multiple departments focusing on first aid and emergency response, and leading lifesaving initiatives like the Swim-to-Survive and AED-PAD programs.

As an experienced trainer, Cheryl dedicated over four decades to teaching lifeguards and swimming instructors and was involved in creating original learn-to-swim programs for all age groups. Her qualifications as a Pool Operator Instructor & Trainer and her certifications as a Pool Operator at Levels 1 and 2 showcased her in-depth knowledge of pool management and operational safety.

Cheryl was also a National Trainer with expertise in Lifesaving and Swim Instruction, Advanced First Aid, and National Lifeguard training. She served as an Examiner for Bronze Cross, Distinction, and other advanced lifesaving certifications. Her additional certifications in LS Swim, Lifesaving, NLS, Standard First Aid (S.F.A.), and CPR "C" further demonstrated her comprehensive skill set in lifesaving techniques and emergency response.

Moreover, Cheryl's role as a High 5 Trainer underscored her commitment to promoting healthy child development in sport and recreation. Her extensive qualifications and recognized leadership in volunteer roles with the Lifesaving Society established Cheryl as a respected authority in the field. She inspired and educated the next generation of lifeguards and swimming instructors, ensuring they were well-prepared to uphold the highest standards of safety and instruction in aquatic environments.