The future of Eldon Ross Pool

St. James

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/03/2024 (847 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Big news in Winnipeg right now is the planned closure of several swimming and wading pools across the city by the City of Winnipeg.

I am speaking up for the Eldon Ross Swimming Pool in the Brooklands area, where I work. As I write, it is slated to be closed this summer, according to the City of Winnipeg’s Preliminary 2024-27 Multi-Year Budget, which will be voted on by city council on Wednesday, March 20.

The Brooklands community is unique, bordered by King Edward, Selkirk, Keewatin and Notre Dame streets, and the Eldon Ross Pool, which has been around since 1983, is the smallest heated, indoor city-run pool in Winnipeg.

It has been suggested that the pool will be replaced with a splash pad. Splash pads are perfect for kids aged one to 10 for the summer months, but Eldon Ross is used by all ages year-round. It’s not just a way to cool off, it’s exercise, which teens, adults and seniors won’t get from a sprinkler.

In the early 2000s, the Brooklands Community Club closed its doors, as did the library and ice rinks, leaving families with few healthy-living options. The pool is the only place Brooklands families can go for year-round physical wellness. It is also a welcoming presence for newcomers and young families moving into the community and provides opportunities for critical water safety instruction to families.

Consider what we hear in the news every day — stories of increasing numbers of youth involved in gangs, drugs, petty crime and worse. Active, responsible kids who are proud of their neighbourhoods are less likely to get involved in harmful activities, which can be measured in dollars and cents by being less of a drain on our health care and justice systems.

But it’s not just about the money.

As a former lifeguard, swim instructor and youth program director, I want to remind our elected officials of the importance of accessible water safety education. All families must be afforded a reasonable opportunity to learn water safety. According to the Lifesaving Society of Manitoba, there are, on average, 22 fatal drownings every year in this province.

I would love to see the city advertising its precious community assets. Show them off! Offer free passes to introduce new families to their neighbourhoods. If facilities are tucked away out of sight, then we have to work a little harder to show people where they are.

And here’s something we can all do to help. If we want our pools, rinks and libraries to remain open – we have to use them.