Canada in 'facility crisis' as aging public pools face wave of major repairs or closures

Finding the next Summer McIntosh and keeping Canadians safe in the water is getting harder as pool closures spread across the country.

Municipalities and universities strapped for cash, and neglecting upkeep on aging pools, now face hefty renovation or rebuild costs — or closure.

More than half of Canada's publicly-owned indoor pools are at least 25 years old, and less than half of the country's 25-metre pools are rated in good physical condition, according to a Swimming Canada report released this year.

"The reason why these pools are closing; they're not serviced. They are not serviced until they break," said Swim BC president Jeannie Lo.

Outdoor pools take pressure off their indoor counterparts in summer, but space in the water is about to get tight in some parts of the country.

If McIntosh, a recent winner of four world championship gold medals at age 18, inspired youngsters to try competitive swimming, St. James Seals head coach Josh Koldon is worried he won't be able to accommodate them.

With the Winnipeg club's St. James Civic Centre pool closed until next year for repairs, and the University of Manitoba's pool out of commission indefinitely, Koldon's 85 swimmers will be searching for lanes this winter.

"It's a big challenge. It definitely puts a hard cap on our numbers because we don't want to cram everybody in like sardines," Koldon said. "We still want to offer a high level of instruction and opportunity for kids."

The Seals shared their pool with Manitoba Bisons junior swimmers after the university's 60-year-old Joyce Fromson Pool sprang a leak in April.

But the civic centre's pool closed in June for repairs. The university has just begun exploring options for replacing a pool where Olympians Kelsey Wog and