City announces final day of operation for Vancouver Aquatic Centre ahead of demolition
It’s the end of an era for the Vancouver Aquatic Centre, and before a huge change for the facility, the City has announced its final day of operation.
Both the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation are moving forward with the planned renewal of the centre, as the current facility has reached the end of its functional lifespan.
June 28 will be the final day of operation for the current facility.
The City says that demolition of the old facility and construction of the new one is expected to begin sometime in late 2026.
This development means that existing programs and services will be impacted, and Park Board staff are currently reviewing capacity across the city’s aquatic system to maintain continuity of the impacted programs.
The City has also unveiled some additional details about what residents can expect from the new facility.
The new facility will include a 25-metre lap pool for swimming as well as competitive events. There will also be a dedicated diving tank with multiple board heights for both training and competition.
2025 concept of the new Vancouver Aquatic Centre. (MJMA Architecture & Design/Acton Ostry Architects/Vancouver Park Board)
February 2025 preliminary concept of the new Vancouver Aquatic Centre. (Acton Ostry Architects/MJMA Architecture and Design)
For more relaxed swimmers, there will be a leisure pool with wellness amenities like a hot pool and a sauna. The new Vancouver Aquatic Centre will include an expanded fitness room with more equipment and a multi-purpose room for community programs and events.
The City is also sharing that the new centre will include modern and accessible washrooms and change rooms.
The project is fully funded with an approved budget of $175 million, but it hasn’t been without its challenges and controversies.
The redevelopment cleared a key approval hurdle in late 2025.
In 2025, dozens of public speakers shared their opinions on the controversial plan to build a new replacement Vancouver Aquatic Centre, with the overwhelming majority expressing strong opposition.
Many speakers were existing pool users, outraged by the municipal government’s decisions earlier in 2025 and continuing work since then to proceed with a 25-metre lap pool as the main tank instead of the originally envisioned 50-metre lap pool capable of hosting more recreational lap swimmers, elite training, and competitions.
There’s going to be a legal hearing at the BC Supreme Court later this month about the 50-metre to 25-metre downsizing of the pool. A GoFundMe was also launched in support, which, as of June 10, 2026, has almost reached its $90,000 funding goal.
Earlier this year, there were calls for an audit of the redevelopment.
Another institution for Vancouver swimmers, Kits Pool, is also reaching the end of its functional life.
With files from Kenneth Chan