Kits Pool reopens after major repairs

Vancouver's famous beachside landmark, Kitsilano Pool, has reopened to the public following critical repairs.

The 137-meter-long pool opened over 50 years ago and is the city's busiest, attracting an average of 150,000 people during its May to September annual opening.

However, its proximity to the ocean and aging infrastructure have caused periodic closures.

The pool was initially expected to reopen for the May long weekend, but cracks in the tank and pipes that leaked 30,000 litres of water every hour led to an announcement in June that it would not reopen this year.

On Wednesday morning, as swimmers took to the water, Mayor Ken Sim told reporters that despite the obstacles, the pool would remain open until Sept. 22 for an extended summer season, three weeks later than last year.

"There was a time where we thought that the Kits Pool was not going to open ever again," Sim said. "But I can tell you we never gave up."

Sim extended thanks to all who contributed to the project, adding that many had to work around the clock to get the pool ready in time for summer.

"There are a lot of people that were making personal sacrifices to make sure this thing got done," he said.

The city accepted pro-bono help from Scott Construction and advice from a mining engineer, Jeff Stibbard, who helped revive the Stanley Park Train in November 2023 after it had been down for two years.

Elected park board Chair Brennan Bastyovanszky stood with Sim at the pool reopening on Friday, despite having been at odds with the mayor over plans to eliminate the board and whose allegations of inappropriate pressure to have Bastyovanszky removed were dismissed in a recent integrity commissioner report.

"I do want to extend thanks to the tireless work of the city staff and the park board staff that have made this possible," Bastyovanszky said during the news event.

New and reimagined Kits Pool

The repairs were made to the pool's water supply lines and pipes, waterproofing, concrete and the pool membrane at an estimated cost of about $3 million, part of a $5 million plan for the pool's maintenance, including a pool replacement feasibility study to "plan for next steps."

Once the pool closes for the 2024 season, workers will return to the Kitsilano Beach site for the next phase of restoration work to "reimagine" the pool, according to the city. 

In June, Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung and Mayor Ken Sim introduced a motion asking the council to improve and replace the pool.

It calls for a new pool that is more resilient to rising ocean levels, high tides and storms, with possible new amenities like whirlpools and steam baths. Sim says the city is working to establish a dedicated fund for public, corporate, and philanthropic contributions to the costs of the new replacement.

"To help us build a fabulous pool that will last another 100 years," he added.

Kits Pool, a happy place

For Vancouver resident Kristina Pikksalu, Kits Pool is a "happy place." 

"Swimming helped me get through a lot of tough times," she said. 

Pikksalu says she wished the pool would remain open for longer but will "take what I can get."

Resident Deborah Dunne says she had been eagerly waiting for the pool to open.

"I was on the app for the ticketing since Sunday at noon every couple of hours between work, you know, when are they going to open the tickets," she told CBC News. 

"Kits Pool is a gift."