Vancouver’s famous beach landmark, Kitsilano Pool, has reopened to the public after major repairs.
Opened over 50 years ago, the 137-metre-long swimming pool is the most visited in the city, attracting an average of 150,000 people during its annual opening period from May to September.
However, due to the proximity to the sea and the outdated infrastructure, closures occurred again and again.
The pool was originally scheduled to reopen on the May long weekend, but due to cracks in the pool and pipes leaking 30,000 litres of water per hour, it was announced in June that it would not reopen this year.
Brennan Bastyovanszky, chair of the Vancouver Park Board, looks on as Mayor Ken Sim announces the reopening of the Kitsilano Pool during a news conference. Sim said the pool has special meaning for many in the city. (Ethan Cairns/CBC)
As swimmers entered the water on Wednesday morning, Mayor Ken Sim told reporters that despite the obstacles, the pool would remain open until September 22 for an extended summer season, three weeks longer than last year.
“There was a time when we thought Kits Pool would never reopen,” Sim said. “But I can tell you, we never gave up.”
Sim thanked everyone who contributed to the project, adding that many had to work around the clock to get the pool ready in time for summer.
“Many people have made personal sacrifices to make sure this gets done,” he said.
The city accepted pro bono help from Scott Construction and advice from mining engineer Jeff Stibbard, who helped restart the Stanley Park Train in November 2023 after a two-year shutdown.
Parks Board Chair-elect Brennan Bastyovanszky stood with Sim at the pool’s reopening on Friday, despite disagreeing with the mayor over plans to disband the board. A recent report by the integrity commissioner refuted allegations the board exerted undue pressure to fire Bastyovanszky.
“I would like to thank the city staff and park administration for their tireless work in making this possible,” Bastyovanszky said during the press conference.
New and revised kits pool
The repairs to the pool’s water supply lines and pipes, waterproofing, concrete and membrane were made at an estimated cost of about $3 million. They are part of a $5 million plan to maintain the pool, which also includes a feasibility study for replacing the pool to “plan next steps.”
Once the pool closes for the 2024 season, workers will return to the Kitsilano Beach site to “reimagine” the pool with the next phase of restoration work, according to the city.
A motion recently passed by city council calls for the pool to be redesigned to be more resilient to flooding and storms. (Ethan Cairns/CBC)
In June, Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung and Mayor Ken Sim introduced a motion calling on council to improve and replace the swimming pool.
It calls for a new swimming pool that is more resilient to rising sea levels, high tides and storms, and may include new amenities such as hot tubs and steam rooms. Sim said the city is working to set up a special fund to attract public, corporate and charitable contributions toward the cost of the new replacement.
“To help us build a fantastic swimming pool that will last another 100 years,” he added.
Kits Pool, a happy place
For Vancouver resident Kristina Pikksalu, Kit’s pool is a “happy place.”
“Swimming has helped me get through a lot of difficult times,” she said.
Pikksalu says she wishes the pool had stayed open longer, but she will “take what she can get.”
Local resident Deborah Dunne says she has been eagerly awaiting the opening of the swimming pool.
“I’ve been on the ticketing app every couple of hours since Sunday afternoon between work, you know, when they open the tickets,” she told CBC News.
“Kit’s pool is a gift.”
