ABC announces promise for new 50-metre pool in South Vancouver | Daily Hive

Artistic rendering of the cancelled original design for the new Burnaby Lake Aquatic Centre, which included a 50-metre competition and training lap swimming pool. (HCMA)

With Vancouver potentially losing one of its two aquatic centres featuring a 50-metre Olympic-sized pool, the ABC Vancouver party announced today its commitment to building a new aquatic centre in South Vancouver with a 50-metre pool.

This is being made as a campaign platform promise by the party’s two candidates running in the Vancouver City Council by-election.

It also comes after the release of a Vancouver Park Board staff report earlier this week that recommends Park Board commissioners approve a smaller 25-metre, eight-lane lap swimming pool for the main tank of the Vancouver Aquatic Centre redevelopment in downtown Vancouver.

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In late February 2025, Park Board commissioners provided their staff with one month to reanalyze the technical feasibility of a 50-metre, eight-lane lap swimming pool and report back on their findings, with most of the commissioners voicing their support for such a larger pool.

Currently, the aging Vancouver Aquatic Centre features a 50-metre pool, but Park Board staff assert that the site lacks the spatial requirements to accommodate a modern 50-metre pool design. They also warn that any delay could risk postponing the project, incurring greater costs, and jeopardizing the use of $103 million in borrowed funding to cover most of the project’s cost, which was approved by voters in a plebiscite during the 2022 civic election.

To access the loan, the Park Board and the City of Vancouver are legally required to select a major construction contractor and commence significant construction activities before the end of 2026. The entire project is expected to cost $170 million.

February 2025 preliminary concept of the new Vancouver Aquatic Centre. (Acton Ostry Architects/MJMA Architecture and Design)

vancouver aquatic centre new concept february 2025

February 2025 preliminary concept of the new Vancouver Aquatic Centre. (Acton Ostry Architects/MJMA Architecture and Design)

Park Board commissioners are expected to make a decision in a public meeting on March 31 based on the latest report that reiterates the original recommendation to proceed with the proposed conceptual design of a 25-metre pool for the main tank.

If Vancouver Aquatic Centre is demolished and redeveloped with a 25-metre pool, the only other 50-metre pool under the Park Board’s network will be the 2009-built Hillcrest Centre, immediately northeast of Queen Elizabeth Park.

However, the aquatic centres at Hillcrest Centre and the University of British Columbia, where there is also a 50-metre pool, already experience high usage and are unlikely able to accommodate the displaced user groups of Vancouver Aquatic Centre. The Park Board’s approach to redeveloping the Vancouver Aquatic Centre has sparked an outcry from major swim clubs, as well as clubs for masters swimming, water polo, synchronized swimming, and underwater hockey. They argue that this decision would force them to significantly scale back their programs and memberships — or even cease operations altogether.

An online petition that began in February, shortly after Park Board staff released their design concept, has now amassed over 14,600 signatures.

“The bottom line is, Vancouver needs a competitive-sized pool — so, let’s make it a reality in South Vancouver. Over the past few weeks, we’ve spoken with thousands of residents in Vancouver. The message from families has been clear: they want more recreational facilities and outdoor spaces for walking, playing and enjoying their community,” said Ralph Kaisers, a city councillor candidate for ABC.

Interior of the existing Vancouver Aquatic Centre. (Stephanie Braconnier/Shutterstock)

The 50-metre pool at Hillcrest Centre. (City of Vancouver)

The party did not propose a specific location in South Vancouver for the new pool facility. However, during this term, they have focused on improving parks and recreation facilities in the area, including upgrades to Moberly Park, which features a new turf field, walking track, spray park, and field house.

“We’ve heard one consistent message from residents in South Vancouver – their infrastructure is not keeping up with the needs of the community. There’s no pool on the south slope, playgrounds are old, residents have to travel to access turf fields,” said Jaime Stein, a city councillor candidate for ABC.

“It’s time that changes. If we have the privilege to serve as your councillors, we will deliver a new pool in South Vancouver so that families, young and old, can continue to thrive in our city.”

A new 50-metre pool in South Vancouver is one of the few major promises made by any party during this by-election campaign. Unlike general elections, by-elections to fill vacated seats serve as a litmus test for the mid-term political climate and public opinion on the governing party’s performance.

Last month, Stein, Kaisers, and OneCity councillor candidate Lucy Maloney also announced their support for a Vancouver Aquatic Centre redevelopment approach that achieves a 50-metre pool.

The civic by-election is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, 2025. A total of 13 candidates are running.

The 50-metre competition pool at UBC Aquatic Centre. (Kenneth Chan)

The 50-metre competition pool at UBC Aquatic Centre. (Kenneth Chan)

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