Toronto extends hours at six outdoor pools to help residents cope with extreme heat

The City of Toronto has extended hours at six public pools to help residents cool off during the extreme heat wave that continues this week.

Environment Canada issued a Heat Warning for Toronto ahead of multiple days of feels-like temperatures hovering around 40°C.

And for the first time this summer, the public pool hours at select locations have been extended.

Torontonians can swim until 11:45 pm tonight at the following outdoor pools:

• Alex Duff Pool, 779 Crawford Street
• Earlscourt Park/Giovanni Caboto Pool, 1369 St. Clair Avenue West
• Monarch Park, 115 Felstead Avenue
• Parkway Forest, 55 Forest Manor Road
• Smithfield Park, 175 Mount Olive Drive
• Sunnyside Park/Gus Ryder Pool, 1755 Lake Shore Boulevard West

McGregor Park pool is closed due to a mechanical issue today. Heron Park Outdoor Pool in Scarborough will remain open until 9 pm (dusk) this evening as it is not equipped with the lighting required to keep it open after dark.

“In order to allow for physical distancing due to COVID-19, the capacity at outdoor pools is reduced to 25%,” said the City.

“This restricts the number of people that can be in the pool. Staff have worked closely with Toronto Public Health to meet guidelines to ensure people can swim safely at outdoor pools. When patrons visit the City’s outdoor pools they will be required to sign-in, providing their first name and an email or phone number to facilitate Toronto Public Health contact tracing, should it be required. Leisure swims will continue to be prioritized to ensure as many swimmers as possible have the opportunity to cool off. Swimmers will be limited to 45-minute sessions to allow for cleaning.”

The decision to extend pool hours is made daily when an Extended Heat Warning is in effect. With humidex values expected to reach the 40ºCs this week, this likely isn’t the last time late-night swimming will be an option this summer week.