Pan-Am Pool to host Canada Games events

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/07/2017 (3098 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Summer’s here and along with it Canada’s Summer Games, which begin July 28 and run through Aug. 13.

This is the 50th anniversary of the games (the first Canada Games were Winter Games, held in Quebec City in 1967), in the year Canada celebrates its 150th birthday.

Although Brandon has hosted the games before, this will be a first for our city. We will be officially co-hosting along with First Nations Treaty 1 and 3 and the Manitoba Métis Federation, as their traditional lands and waters are serving as venues.

Although we are the official host city, Gimli and Kenora will see action, too, with sailing and rowing events being held in their communities.

Over 16 days of competition, 250 events in 19 different sports will take place at 23 different venues.

Over 4,000 athletes will compete and the city will receive an anticipated 20,000 visitors.

Past games have produced outstanding athletes such as Hayley Wickenheiser, Lennox Lewis and our own Cindy Klassen.

In my neighbourhood, the Pan-Am Pool will host swimming and diving competitions.

This world class Olympic-size facility was built for the first Pan-Am Games held here in 1967 and consists of two competitive pools in addition to a kiddies’ pool. The main pool has a moveable bulkhead that can be set for either 25m or 50m distances, typically referred to as either short or long courses. It also separates the diving pool from the swimming area. The average water temperature is 28 C, with the training pool a little cooler at 26 C.

The diving pool is 4.9 metres deep and has four springboards — two at one metre and two at three metres — and a diving tower with platforms at three metres, five metres, 7.5 metres and 10 metres.

The diving events are scheduled for the first week of the games while the swimming events will run in the second week, from Aug. 7–12 with the shorter heats being held in the mornings.

The complex was closed for two months last year to allow renovations in preparation for the games, including replacing the bulkhead and timing equipment, upgrading the diving tower and adding a dryland training room for the divers.

Canada Games contributed $500,000 to the work and will be providing an additional $170,000 to the pool prior to the start of the games.

Pan-Am is home to many local swimming clubs including the Manta Swim Club, the Manitoba Marlins and the Masters Aquatic Club. Two water polo teams, Bushido and the Neptunes also play there and the pool bulkhead can be set to either 15 or 30 metres for their competitions.

It’s located at 25 Poseidon Bay, what a great address for a great swimming facility.

Trevor Smith is a community correspondent for River Heights. You can contact him via email at smitht@mymts.net