The Vancouver park board’s refusal to renew the 50-metre pool at the Vancouver Aquatics Centre (VAC) is a continuing trend of reducing aquatic facilities throughout the city. This occurs at a time when the population is booming, physical activity levels are at historic lows and mental illnesses are increasing. Read More
Opinion: Downsizing of pool at Vancouver Aquatic Centre will have impacts on swimmers of all ages. In the end, people will just stop swimming
Opinion: Downsizing of pool at Vancouver Aquatic Centre will have impacts on swimmers of all ages. In the end, people will just stop swimming
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The Vancouver park board’s refusal to renew the 50-metre pool at the Vancouver Aquatics Centre (VAC) is a continuing trend of reducing aquatic facilities throughout the city. This occurs at a time when the population is booming, physical activity levels are at historic lows and mental illnesses are increasing.
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This will have negative impacts on residents of all ages throughout the city as aquatic programs and swim clubs will be shuffled to other pools. Invariably, clubs will shut down and individual swimmers will be too inconvenienced to keep swimming.
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A recent UBC study found only 26 per cent of children are active enough to reap physical and mental health benefits. Children who aren’t active are more likely to experience mental illness, turn to substance abuse or be involved in crime. In addition, inactive children become inactive adults and have increased risk for chronic diseases.
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Informed Opinion
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Girls and children from low-income families will be hit the hardest. Girls don’t have as many opportunities in sports as boys. Swimming is one of the few sports that is equally open to boys and girls. For children from low-income families, having to transition to another pool in Vancouver may be out of reach due to costs.
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But it’s not just children who will be affected. Many swimmers prefer a 50-metre pool due to the space and safety it provides. Collisions and altercations are far more common in 25-metre pools. For seniors, this can be enough to turn them away. This would be devastating as swimming is one of the few lifelong activities to undertake, as it doesn’t have the pounding of running and other weight-bearing sports. It’s safer than riding a bike on the city streets. And for people with mobility and joint issues, it’s the only activity they can do.
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Swimming is also a survival skill. Deaths due to drownings have increased over the years. It’s a leading cause of injury and death in children. In Vancouver, it’s estimated fewer than half of children can swim. And people who don’t learn to swim as children rarely learn as adults. At the same time city staff indicate there are thousands of people waiting for swim lessons due to lack of capacity.
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Over the years the board has closed pools throughout Vancouver, while promises to create new ones have gone unfulfilled. Pools in Mount Pleasant, Hastings and Sunset areas have all closed. During that time, Vancouver’s population has increased by 19 per cent.
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The board isn’t even following their own blueprint. The city’s aquatics strategy revealed VAC as the second most used aquatic facility in the city. It also called for renewal or replacement of five pools, yet none of these projects has moved forward. The, oldest, the renewal of the Britannia pool, has been put off for years