Kits Pool Reopening Raises Financial and Environmental Concerns
Image courtesy CBC
Vancouver's iconic Kitsilano Pool is set to reopen on August 7, pending any “unforeseen setbacks.” However, locals question whether the city's promises, as well as the pool itself, will hold water, given the pool’s severe structural issues and history of unfulfilled commitments. Further, data provided to Coastal Front reveals the financial and environmental challenges associated with maintaining the pool.
The 45-year-old Kits Pool has been leaking approximately 30,000 litres of water per hour since a 2022 winter storm damaged its structure. This leakage prevented the balance of essential chemicals, posing significant health and safety risks. Despite attempts to fix the problem, the damage proved too extensive, leading to the initial summer closure announcement.
City data provided to Coastal Front reveals the price of heating Kits Pool, which has cost an average of $104,041 annually to heat over the past five years. This includes $63,621 from natural gas and $40,419 from electricity. The facility consumes an average of 9,134 GJ of natural gas and 360,124 kWh of electricity annually.
Mayor Ken Sim attributes the potential reopening to the expertise of Jeff Stibbard, a mining CEO who provided pro-bono assistance. Stibbard, known for his involvement in various industrial projects, previously helped the city with the stalled Stanley Park train. Sim claims Stibbard’s fresh perspective identified feasible repairs to extend the pool's life by two more years.
However, details of Stibbard’s assessment remain unclear, raising questions about the transparency and feasibility of the planned repairs. Speaking to The Tyee, Park Board Commissioner Brennan Bastyovanszky expressed doubts about the timeline and effectiveness of the proposed fixes, noting that no new information has been provided to the board.
The city has allocated $5 million for the pool, with $3 million to go to short-term repairs including a pool liner. The other $2 million will go to planning for a replacement pool.
In recent budget updates, city staff recommended cutting $16.3 million in funds earmarked for various parks and recreation projects due to fiscal constraints.
Water usage data from Kits Pool further highlights the financial and environmental challenges. The pool holds 5.22 million litres of water during its normal operating period. Over the past five years, it has used a staggering 164.6 million litres of fresh water, with 64 percent of this volume consumed between January 2022 and April 2024. The excessive water use, driven by the pool’s leaks, has intensified calls for more sustainable solutions.
At a press conference, Sim reiterated his commitment to reopening the pool and exploring alternative funding models. However, specifics about the repairs for Kits Pool and how they differ from previous failed attempts were not provided.
Kits Pool attracts approximately 135,000 users annually, according to the City.
