Swim clubs push back against plan to shrink Vancouver Aquatic Centre pool

Fourteen-year-old Izzy Stack-Hunter swims at the Vancouver Aquatic Centre regularly. 

"There's nothing that makes me feel as happy and fulfilled," she told CBC News. 

For her, the pool is more than just a place to train, it's a second home.

"Swimming is everything to me ... when I don't swim, I feel all icky, like I feel gross."

The young swimmer is one of more than 350 members of the Canadian Dolphin Swim Club, which rents the pool for training. 

WATCH | Swim clubs urge park board to reconsider pool plan: 

Swim clubs say Vancouver Aquatic Centre redesign will cut vital training space

15 hours ago

Duration 12:59

Swim clubs are pushing back against a Vancouver Aquatic Centre design proposal that would cut the existing Olympic-sized swimming pool in half, saying a lot is at stake for local swimmers. But a park board commissioner says the plan is meant to cater pool facilities to a broader demographic.

But now, a proposed redesign of the aquatic centre would see its 50-metre, Olympic-sized pool cut in half — a move that has ignited opposition and an ongoing petition from competitive swimmers like Stack-Hunter and her local swim club.

The new proposal

The Vancouver Park Board is set to vote on the staff-recommended proposal on Monday. It would see the existing pool — built in 1974 and described as being at "the end of its functional lifespan" — replaced with a new facility featuring a 25-metre lap pool, dive platforms, a leisure pool and other recreational amenities. 

When it first opened, the centre was a premier sporting venue in the densely populated West End, drawing swimmers, synchronized swimming teams, water polo players and divers for training and competitions. It continues to be in high demand for recreation programs and swimming lessons.

However, a city staff report says the aging pool is no longer viable because it fails to meet modern seismic standards.

The centre made headlines in March 2022 after a large piece of the facade of the building fell off overnight.

Concerns over losing training space

Jeannie Lo, president of the Canadian Dolphin Swim Club, says the potential loss of space is a major concern.

"It would really displace a lot of our programs, and we're not sure where we would go," she said. "We potentially have to reduce our program significantly."

Some professional athletes worry the move could weaken the long-term development of local aquatic sports.

Hau-Li Fan, an Olympic open-water swimmer who trained at the Vancouver Aquatic Centre, says losing a long-course, 50-metre pool could be detrimental for future competitors.

"I would say those years I trained here really cemented my passion for the sport," he said. "In order to race at the Olympic level, top athletes around the world train in long-course pools."

But Fan says Vancouver only has two such pools — the other at the University of B.C.

Phil Skinder, director and head coach at the Pacific Swim Academy, says the city already has long wait-lists for swim programs, and closing the facility to reduce the pool's size will only exacerbate the problem.

"So many children have not had access to lessons through the COVID shutdowns ... kids are not getting to learn how to swim," he said.

Park board says new design is for changing needs

Vancouver Park Board commissioner Brennan Bastyovanszky says he understands the frustration. As a frequent swimmer himself, he says he will also feel the loss of a long-course pool.

"I am disappointed that we don't get to have the pool."

The commissioner says he has been advocating for the City of Vancouver to provide the funds needed to maintain the pool's current size.

"I wish the city would put more money toward this project," he added.

The aquatic centre redesign was initially budgeted at $140 million, but now requires an additional $30 million.

Renovating the existing facility without scaling back its scope would be even more expensive, Bastyovanszky says.

However, he says the new design, which includes a hot tub, sauna, steam room, leisure pool and fitness centre, caters to a broader demographic, particularly the city's aging population.

"We expect the number of users to go up," he said, adding that the focus can't be solely on competitive swimmers.

In a statement, the City of Vancouver said it is working with the park board on planning the renewal of the aquatic centre.

"The recommended renewal option supports diverse programming," it said.

The city said council will consider the plan and potential extra funding at an upcoming meeting.