NLS Pool, City of Vaughan, Dufferin Clark Community Centre

October 20 - 22, November 3-5, 2006
Welcome to the course!

You never know where your NLS may take you!

The desire to explore has always been at the forefront of my dreams. The early space pioneers were a source of inspiration but it never seemed possible to me that I would have a chance to explore the final frontier.

I turned instead to the exploration of inner space, the undersea world that so many of us find exciting. As I pursued my SCUBA training, I also completed my Bronze Medallion, and became a Lifesaving Society Instructor, Examiner, and National Lifeguard.

The team spirit associated with lifeguarding and participating in lifeguard competitions provides some of my fondest memories. Developing self-confidence and leadership skills; experiencing the joy of hard work and the benefits of persevering through demanding tasks; and learning to have the courage to follow your dreams; are all skills developed in aquatics that helped prepare me to accept the responsibility of caring for others as a physician and currently physician­/astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency.

Now the team that I lead is working to take humans beyond low earth orbit to extend the time/distance constant of human space exploration. The experiences that I had training and working as a lifeguard helped prepare me for the future; for the opportunity of my dreams - a chance to fly in space!

Dr. Dave Williams
Canadian Astronaut & NLS Lifeguard