Scona Pool will permanently close after Edmonton city councillors voted Wednesday to close and cease all operations at the facility.
A report discussed at executive committee Wednesday recommends permanent closure of the 65-year-old pool and facility, in light of ongoing maintenance needs and recent significant system failures.
“Today’s decision was a very difficult decision to close it and a regrettable decision in a way that we are at a point where there are a large number of structural deficiencies at the pool, including the deficiencies in the roof of it, the walls, the mechanical system,” Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said.
“It wasn’t really a fiscally responsible decision. We value the recreational facilities. So what we need to do next is make sure we are replacing this old facility with a brand new facility as quickly as possible.”
“We feel it’s time to close the facility,” said Adam Laughlin, deputy city manager of integrated infrastructure services.
“This is a tough decision today. We don’t make these decisions lightly.”
Since 2015, the south Edmonton facility has required more than $1 million in maintenance. Additionally, it would cost a minimum of $6 million to address the emergent repairs and extend the life of the facility by five to 10 years.
An assessment of the building completed in July 2022 found significant repairs are required to maintain the facility’s operations, including to the building’s foundation, superstructure, walls, roof, interior finishes and fixtures, as well as mechanical and electrical systems.
Michelle Plouffe, a city legal advisor, said the risk to the city and the risk of injury if the facility were to remain open is “very high.”
Administration said the physical condition of the facility has been monitored for years, as the building was noted to have “serious deterioration” in 2010.
“The function of the facility is inadequate, with extensive deficiencies impacting operations, accessibility, inclusivity and user experience. The condition of Scona Pool is such that there has been a high probability of multiple system failures, including the structural, mechanical, and electrical systems, for many years,” reads the report.
“The facility, its systems and components are aging and it is becoming increasingly more challenging to maintain it in safe and running condition.”
The pool opened in 1957 and was operated by the city until 1989, at which time it was contracted out to a private company. River City Recreation Inc. has been the pool contractor since September 2009.
Administration said it would provide 30 days’ notice of closure to the pool’s contractor, and compensation to the operator may be required.
During a discussion about the facility with city council in June 2015, administration said it was anticipated that a significant failure would take place within a year or two.
On June 29, 2022, administration said a system failure occurred at the pool when the heat exchanger started leaking and was shut down. The failure impacts the water flow to the pool, chlorine feed and the boiler and steam distribution for the pool.
The pool temperature has been maintained by feeding hot domestic, or potable water into the pool. Administration said while this is a fix during the summer, cooler temperatures will render this solution ineffective. It’s also placing excessive demand on domestic hot water, leading to low supply and temperatures across Strathcona High School.
The report points out that there are three other City of Edmonton pools within five kilometres of Scona Pool: Bonnie Doon, Confederation and Kinsmen.
It also shows that attendance at the pool has been lower than other city pools for years, averaging about 36,000 users per year from 2015-2019. Similar scale facilities with only a swimming pool see higher yearly attendance: Confederation 167,000, Eastglen 61,000 and Bonnie Doon 125,000.
In a statement, Edmonton Public Schools said Strathcona School has a very robust swim club that is one of the largest in the city, with 100-150 students participating every year.
“Strathcona School staff have some work ahead of them to figure out logistics for the upcoming school year,” said spokesperson Veronica Jubinville. “But we are confident the strength of the program will continue, regardless of what facility is used. Many of our students in division high schools across the city travel distances to access extracurricular programming, like swim clubs.”
Council has approved funding for the Rollie Miles Recreation Centre design, which is meant to replace Scona Pool. While the project is underway with design expected to be complete in 2024, delivery of the new rec centre and indoor pool is not currently funded.
The report was discussed by committee on Wednesday afternoon, where 17 members of the public signed up to speak about the topic. Many of those who spoke at council called on the city to keep Scona Pool open until the Rollie Miles facility is built and funded.
Svetlana Troitskaia is a mother of four who has lived in the Queen Alexandra neighbourhood for 18 years. She said she and her kids walk to the pool twice a week.
“Swimming is good for my health, for the health of my children,” she said. “Scona pool became a major social place for them.”
One of her sons lives with special needs and Troitskaia said swimming is one of the sports he can participate in, and he regularly takes part in public and lane swim at Scona. She is worried that the other nearby pools are not within walking distance for her family, particularly her son with special needs.
Hugo Nguyen is one of the swim captains on the Scona swim team. He said the team centres on family, community and supporting others around you.
Nguyen said being on the swim team has connected him with like-minded people who have opened his eyes to how a group of people can give you pride in your school.
“Nothing in life comes easy. I’ve learned a great work ethic, how to balance my school load with other extracurriculars in my life,” he said.
“I know students like myself have joined Scona just for the swim team.”
Brian Torrance is an Allendale community member with two daughters who use the pool regularly.
“I am against the closing of the pool,” he said, calling the proposed closure short sighted.
Torrance said Scona Pool and other recreation facilities provide safety and wellness to community members. He said libraries, pools and parks are all core services in the city that need to be supported and funded by council.
“Edmontonians value their health and their recreation and their overall well-being,” Torrance said.
Young pool users Maddy Chan and Felicity Kusiek jointly presented a slideshow in support of keeping Scona Pool open.
Chan said they will attend the high school in three years and hope to continue to use the pool.
“We can go there often and we would hate to see it close. Scona Pool is a great pool for adults and kids alike,” Chan said, adding she’s been using the pool since she was a baby. “Families and neighbours are going to want to go to an easily-accessible pool.”
Kusiek added that she learned to swim through swimming lessons at the pool.
“We have had so much fun learning,” she said. “We also just go to the pool with our friends and family and always have a lot of fun.
“Scona Pool matters to me so much,” Kusiek continued. “It takes five minutes to walk all the way to the pool, whereas driving to another pool not only pollutes the Earth but takes way longer to get to.”
In a letter to council, Ward F Edmonton Public Schools trustee Julie Kusiek asked that Scona Pool remain in operation until the Rollie Miles Rec Centre is built.
“Scona Pools is an incredible resource both to Strathcona High School students and to the local community,” Kusiek wrote, noting there are currently over 100 students enrolled in the school’s swim program.
The committee voted 4-1 in favour of receiving the report for information.
Sohi said he recognizes his decision may disappoint many in the community, but he could not support keeping the pool open.
“Sorry to disappoint many people,” Sohi said. “It is not a decision that any of us takes lightly.”
Sohi said it is not fiscally responsible to put $6 million into the facility. He said he will do whatever he can to ensure the Rollie Miles project is built as quickly as possible.
“My commitment to Rollie Miles is very deep,” Sohi said.
Administration said it will work with the school, swim teams and rental groups to explore booking time at other city-owned and non-city-owned facilities.