Hiccups at new downtown Toronto pool leave kids' swim classes in limbo, parents say

Some downtown Toronto parents say the city's left them high and dry after a new, state-of-the-art pool was closed recently for the second time since mid-October.

The pool, which opened at the One Yonge Street Community Recreation Centre in November of 2023, appears to have been a big hit with parents — until problems began cropping up two months ago.

"It's awesome," said Mike Keenan, who has a four-year-old daughter. "They have programs for the kids. My daughter's in a lot of those. The staff is really good too."

But less than a year after it opened, things started to go sideways.

The pool was abruptly closed by the city in mid-October, in the midst of children's swim classes, "for maintenance," according to Judee Yarmolinsky, a mom of two, whose five-year-old was enrolled in a learn-to-swim class.

She says her daughter had only attended two classes when the city shut the pool, cancelling the remaining classes and moving the program from One Yonge to another community centre near St. Lawrence Market. Parents who didn't want to make the switch were offered refunds or credits for future swim programs, according to Yarmolinsky.

At that point, she says, she withdrew from the classes and the city promised a refund. She says that refund has not materialized because her family's registration information was misplaced by the city during a switch from one online registration platform to another.

"It's really, really inconvenient; it's hard on the kids," she said. "I wish that it was communicated better."

City looking to relocate swim classes during repair work

Although the pool re-opened by early November, new problems developed by the end of the month. This time, according to emails from city staff seen by CBC Toronto, parents were told the pool would be closed for the rest of the year.

City staff told CBC Toronto in an email that "the swimming pool at One Yonge is currently out of service while we work with the contractor to fix malfunctioning pool jet covers."

"We are hoping to reopen the pool as soon as possible, however safety is our utmost priority; we will reopen the pool once the repairs are completed."

The email also says staff are trying to relocate swim classes to other pools.

"We understand and sympathize with the frustrations of pool users," the email states. "We are working to help customers access programming in nearby facilities; or obtain refunds and account credits." 

'Disappointing for the kids'

Yarmolinsky said that although city staff told her the pool is expected to re-open in the new year, she's not enthusiastic about enrolling her children in any more swim classes there, because the pool's status seems uncertain.

"I'm looking into private options," she said. "It's a little bit more reliable."

The pool's uncertain opening aside, both Yarmolinsky and Keenan say the facility has been great for the community.

"I think in general it's really good," she said.

"It's just really sad to get in there and not have a lesson... It's very disappointing for the kids."