McKinnon Pool may remain open in the meantime, engineer’s report to come
Photo via University of Victoria website.
When UVic announced the closure of McKinnon Pool on July 2, students and community members alike immediately voiced their disapproval. On August 28, UVic president Kevin Hall hosted a news conference addressing the decision — as well as tentative plans to build a new facility.
Hall said that the university was going to look into soliciting fundraising and partners to gauge the type of pool that would most benefit Victoria at large, be it a lane or competition pool, and gather funding for the project.
“We recognize that the closing of the McKinnon pool is going to add pressure on the region in terms of recreational facilities,” said Hall. “But with all these offers of help from the public and potential support from local and provincial governments and from donors, I think we can all work together to create something that’s really special for this region, and that will be our focus going forward.”
Unlike McKinnon, the new pool may not be built on campus. “I think that really depends on who the partners are, and where they wish to see the facility,” said Hall.
“It will not just be a university facility. We have tried in the past, starting 10 years ago, to raise money for a new pool. That didn’t work. The university has had budgetary issues as have all institutions in this country. The continued rates of inflation are high, international students, all kinds of things. We just don’t see it as a feasible thing for us to come up with, so we need partners in this,” he said.
McKinnon Pool will still close on September 15, but UVic now plans on conducting a thorough engineering report to see if McKinnon Pool can stay open for between six months and two years.
“It’s not feasible to keep that open in the long term. There’s too many structural issues with the building itself. But if we can keep it as a bridge to a new regional project, that would be terrific, subject to us raising funds to keep that open,” said Hall.
Currently, it is unknown how long the assessment will take. Hall estimates that it may take up to three months for the report to be complete.
When asked what would happen to the UVic aquatic clubs in that time, a UVic spokesperson said that UVic remains committed to working closely with all aquatic clubs to support their needs and help with a smooth transition to new arrangements. “Our Athletics and Recreation team is actively working with club leaders to identify and facilitate alternative solutions following the closure of the McKinnon Pool,” said the spokesperson.
The artistic swimming club and triathlon club have successfully relocated their swim-training sessions to the Saanich Commonwealth Pool. The water polo club is currently on hold pending new leadership.
“We recognize that pool use is at a premium in the region and demand often outstrips supply,” said a UVic spokesperson.
The spokesperson said that the UVic Whitewater Club, which had concerns about where they would practice and store gear following the closure of the McKinnon Pool, can continue to store their gear at McKinnon Pool, and is “exploring solutions and partnerships” as it pertains to a practise space.
Wayne Kelly, the organizer behind the Save McKinnon Pool Facebook group, said “I think this was a good announcement.… I think [Hall] is showing that they’re willing to really look into it. I’m pretty happy about that.”
Kelly plans on bringing a representative of Myrtha Pools to gauge the cost of building a new pool on campus.
“[Myrtha Pools] did the stainless steel pool for the Olympics in Paris, and they’re disassembling those, so they’re available at a discount,” said Kelly. “Then it’s the cost of putting a roof and the decking around it. So I think we can have a pool built for relatively little cost.”
With most pool facilities — like storage, studios, and changing rooms — already available at CARSA, Kelly estimates the cost may be just over five million dollars to build the pool.
Kelly hopes that a new pool is built on campus.
“[Students] don’t want to jump on the bus or go downtown. They want to finish class, or in between classes, have an opportunity to take care of their physical and mental wellness.”
