Toronto’s outdoor pools to reopen as students mark last day of school
Posted June 30, 2022 5:59 am.
It’s the last day of class for public and Catholic school students in Toronto and it coincides with the full re-opening of the City’s outdoor pools.
Mayor John Tory will officially open the City’s outdoor pools at 2 p.m. Thursday. Click here for a list of the 58 pools.
Wading pools are also scheduled to reopen on Thursday, while splash pads are currently open. Indoor pools are open year-round in the city, though hours of operation vary on location.
Several municipalities across the province are dealing with lifeguard shortages this season, after COVID-19 measures put certification and re-certification programs on hold.
Earlier this week, the City’s director of community recreation said there would not be any major service impacts. So far, the City has hired 80 per cent of the needed lifeguards.
Last week, the City forced to cancel 169 swimming lessons due to a shortage of lifeguards available to teach them. However, officials said the lifeguard shortage would not affect staffing at any of the pools and beaches and would not affect their opening schedules.
Meanwhile, the City of Toronto said Donald D. Summerville pool in Woodbine Beach, which is a popular summer attraction and has a 50-metre Olympic pool, won’t be open to the public until next month, as workers discovered damage to the liner caused by winter weather.
Staff are hoping the smaller, 25-metre section of the pool will be ready by the end of July, but fixes to the 50-metre swimming section likely won’t be completed until 2023. Officials say the pool repairs at Donald D. Summerville do not affect the washrooms and food vendors.
With files from Meredith Bond and Lucas Casaletto of CityNews
