Expected closure of popular Vancouver pool delayed until 2027 | Daily Hive

Britannia Community Centre

Maintenance work on Britannia Pool, one of the busiest and most popular pools in Vancouver, is slated to start in mid-January 2027, closing the site temporarily.

According to the City of Vancouver, they will be upgrading critical mechanical, electrical, plumbing, pool and building systems that are necessary for the facility to stay open.

Initially, the pool closure was intended to start in November of this year, but the City of Vancouver and Park Board delayed the work to “help ensure the local clubs and their swimmers can continue to access the facility throughout their season,” said the City of Vancouver in an email to Daily Hive Urbanized.

The scope and schedule of the maintenance work “are still being finalized and remain subject to the necessary approvals,” the City added.

“This project is an important investment in the long-term operation of the pool, and postponing the work will help ensure the local clubs and their swimmers can continue to access the facility throughout their season.”

Staff are currently reviewing capacity at all of the City’s recreation centres to find opportunities to “reallocate lane space and program time” for current Britannia pool users.

“We will work closely with affected groups to explore available options and support continued access to services wherever possible,” the City said.

As part of the 2023-2026 Capital Plan mid-term update, Council approved $17.5 million for maintenance at the Britannia site to address its aging infrastructure, improve its performance, and ensure the site remains usable in the years to come.

Planning for a new site is underway

In the City’s 2027-2030 Capital Plan that City Council approved this summer, it includes funding to plan a new Britannia community centre and pool renewal.

According to an internal memo sent in Fall 2025 to Vancouver Park Board Commissioners, work on the new facility likely won’t commence until sometime in the 2030s.

In the memo, Park Board Staff outlined a preliminary list of features they are considering, including a swimming pool, gymnasium, fitness centre, multi-purpose rooms, administrative space for programming, skateboarding amenities, and potentially on-site childcare, subject to funding availability.

Britannia pool is one of the Park Board’s next major aquatic redevelopment priorities, after the Vancouver Aquatic Centre and Kitsilano Outdoor Pool.

With files from Kenneth Chan

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