My office has received many questions regarding the pool closure at the Canterbury Recreation Centre, which is taking place from January 24th to July 5th. The pool at the Canterbury Recreation Complex will be closed beginning January 24th for maintenance which includes a full tiling of the pool and changerooms.
I have compiled a list of frequently asked questions and answers that can be found here:
Can the scope of the project be modified to include a redesign of the changerooms’ layout?
This project is a lifecycle renewal initiative intended to address long-standing issues with the pool tiles. It is a necessary project that cannot be cancelled or modified, as it has already been tendered, awarded, and work has already begun.
A full redesign of the building would require consultation to understand the objectives of a redesign, followed by funding for the development of architectural options to achieve the desired results, a full costing of a favoured and feasible option, followed by securing funding for the project. The City budgets to replace various components of a building to keep it operational and safe. A redesign is not in the scope of the project and is outside of the budget already allocated to this project.
Staff recognize that older buildings, such as this facility, do not meet all current AODA accessibility requirements. A significant redesign of interior spaces would trigger the requirement to bring those areas into compliance with current regulations, such as wider access points and hallways, appropriate turning radius in change rooms and washrooms, and fully accessible cubicles and showers. Achieving these standards within an existing building footprint can be challenging and often requires an expansion of the facility. This has been the case with recent arena projects, including Blackburn and Larry Robinson.
Why are multiple pools closed at the same time?
When pool closures for maintenance or major repairs are being planned, relevant departments collaborate more than a year in advance in an effort to stagger closure dates and prevent clusters of closures in one area. This coordinated planning accommodates both annual maintenance and extended closures, while allowing sufficient time for tendering, contractor scheduling, and procurement of required equipment and parts.
However, during the 2025 and 2026 season, several unexpected repairs that could not be postponed were found. The Brewer and St. Laurent pools, for example, are both closed for extended periods due to unplanned roof and HVAC issues. As a result, there are temporary overlaps in closures at a few locations. Adjustments to staffing and schedules were made where possible to keep as many nearby pool options open as we can.
Why wasn’t this project scheduled for summer when outdoor pools are open?
The City tries to avoid summer shutdowns because indoor pools support summer day camps, increased public swim demand, and swim lesson volume when school is out.
As mentioned above, Canterbury’s closure date was originally set to begin upon the scheduled completion of work at Brewer and St. Laurent. However, both of those projects (Brewer and St. Laurent) were extended by contractors and Canterbury’s timing could not be shifted without affecting other facilities and contracted lifecycle work across the city.
Unfortunately, when dealing with third party contractors, we do not always have the ability to alter dates once a plan is set and all parties have agreed.
Will the changeroom layout or access to the pool deck change?
No. This project is strictly a retiling of the pool tank, deck and adjacent changeroom areas. It does not include changes to circulation, the layout of the changerooms, or the access points to the deck, as there is no funding to redesign the interior of the facility.
Will a lift like the one at Champagne be installed?
No. New accessibility equipment is not part of this project’s scope. Because of the building’s age, it is not fully accessible and therefore not well adapted for wheelchair access.
Will additional heaters be added?
No. Heating improvements are not included in the scope of this project.
Will the flooring in the main entrance be replaced?
The main entrance is not part of the project as the tile floor in this area was redone a few years ago.
Can Aquafit classes move to Deborah Anne Kirwan during the closure?
The pool at Deborah Anne Kirwan is overall too shallow to support Aquafit classes (only a small section meets the chest‑deep depth required for the program). The 92-degree therapeutic pool water is additionally not recommended for this type of programming.
Why can’t Deborah Anne Kirwan be opened during the day to offset the closure?
The pool at Deborah Anne Kirwan is owned by the school board and is attached to the school. City access is governed by a long‑standing agreement and is not available for City programming or public swims during daytime hours. There is no weekday daytime availability because the school uses the facility during school hours for its own programs, and the City’s access does not begin until 3:30 p.m. on weekdays.
Are there plans to add a family changeroom?
No, there are no plans for a family or universal change room. The existing building footprint does not allow the addition of a family changeroom without major renovations that would significantly reduce or eliminate existing changerooms.
What small improvements are being made in the changerooms during the shutdown?
A few additional private changing stalls will be added in each changeroom. Some existing lockers will be removed to create the needed space.