Aquatics & Aging Infrastructure: Part 2
August 28, 2025
In Part 1 I provided a broad overview of the topic of aging aquatic infrastructure in Canada. We looked at why the general public should be concerned about facilities closing, and the potential scale of the problem, with some facilities operating well beyond their anticipated design life. Part 2 provides a case study of the situation on the ground using Manitoba as the focus.
Manitoba has approximately 120 public swimming facilities spread across the province. This includes both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, as well as designated and maintained waterfronts (mostly national and provincial parks). This number does not include pools designed/operated specifically for medical/rehabilitation use, recreational camps with waterfronts, or private facilities where the general public has no means of access.
Providing a comprehensive list of every public swimming pool in Manitoba, including the date of construction/opening, is beyond the scope of this article; perhaps it is something we will cover in the future. Just looking at facilities that are currently closed provides cause for immediate concern. As you will see, many facilities are already well over their designed lifespan, and some are already on their second or third round of major maintenance to continue operations. Original date of opening is noted for each pool, where known.
- Boni-Vital Pool (1975), Winnipeg - Closed for major maintenance, expected to re-open at some point during Fall 2025.
- Eldon Ross Pool (1983), Winnipeg - Permanently closed in 2024 and currently awaiting disposal.
- Happyland Pool (1955), Winnipeg - Permanently closed in 2024 and currently awaiting disposal.
- St. James Civic Centre Pool (1967), Winnipeg - Closed for major maintenance, expected to re-open November 2026.
- Transcona Kinsmen Centennial Pool (1967), Winnipeg - Closed for the summer, expected to re-open in September 2025.
- Norwood Outdoor Pool (1962), Winnipeg - Closed in 2018 and demolished in 2019.
- CFB Winnipeg/17 Wing Pool (1950s), Winnipeg - Currently only open very reduced hours (2 days per week with only 2 hours per day) for Canadian Forces personnel only. Various maintenance issues have kept the facility closed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Joyce Fromson Pool, University of Manitoba (1965), Winnipeg - Closed permanently in 2025 due to structural issues. Preliminary work begun on a replacement facility.
- Flin Flon Aqua Centre (1975) - Closed permanently in 2019 due to structural collapse of the roof. Replacement facility is now under construction with an expected opening at some point during 2026.
- Nelson River Aquatic Centre, Gillam (circa 2003) - Currently closed due to maintenance issues and lack of staff.
- Powerview-Pine Falls Pool (1984) - Closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has not re-opened since due to unspecified maintenance/structural issues.
- Thompson Norplex Pool (1977) - Closed permanently in 2019 due to structural issues. Replacement facility now under construction with an expected opening at some point during 2026.
As can be seen, several of the facilities on our list have closed permanently, and others are undergoing long maintenance breaks. Notably, Bon-Vital Pool in Winnipeg has had three major maintenance/renovation closures over the past 15 years, and the St. James Civic Centre is closed for the second time in the last decade. Beyond these listed facilities, there have been discussions around facility closures in Brandon (see Part 1 references) and other communities. Numerous seasonal outdoor pools in Manitoba have been re-mediated or rebuilt over the past decade.
Why are so many facilities in distress? What can be done about it? Join us as we start to talk solutions in Part 3 of this series.
Christopher Love
President
Wavecrest Aquatics Inc.
