City launches feasibility study as demand for modern swim facilities outpaces aging infrastructure in Waterloo.
On Nov. 24, Mayor Dorothy McCabe tabled a motion asking City of Waterloo staff to explore the capital and operating costs of building a new aquatics facility on the city’s west side. The proposed center would feature a 50-metre competition-ready pool, a practice pool, training spaces, and spectator seating.
McCabe said people in the city and the region participate in swimming programs, and the province is falling behind in terms of building swimming infrastructure compared to population growth. She said building a new or renovating an existing aquatics facility would improve access to recreational programming, while providing improved opportunities for training elite swimmers in Waterloo and in neighbouring communities within the Waterloo Region.
Currently, there is only one facility in the region with a 50-metre competition pool, located at Wilfrid Laurier University, but it’s slowly approaching its limits. McCabe’s motion passed unanimously thanks to the support from local swim clubs, who expressed the need for the pool.
Despite the unanimous support, Mayor McCabe stressed the project is still in its infancy.
“If we don’t have the money, if we don’t have partners and if we don’t have the funding, we won’t be able to do this,” McCabe said, clarifying that the current phase is strictly a feasibility study. “It’s not going to be this year. Probably won’t even be next year.”
She also highlighted a significant gap in Ontario’s athletic infrastructure, noting there is no elite-level training facility between Mississauga and London. With two universities in Waterloo boasting competitive swim teams, she argued the study is necessary to see if the city can bridge that gap.
“We need more swim capacity… we don’t have an elite-level competition pool,” she said.
While the city looks toward the future, local institutions were feeling past strains. At Wilfrid Laurier University, the current athletic complex pool remains the primary hub for the Waterloo community, but it’s showing its age.
John Will, Associate Director of Facilities and Operations at Laurier, noted that maintaining the facility is a constant struggle.
“The biggest challenge is just the age of equipment and trying to keep equipment functioning at an efficient level,” Will said.
He noted that downtime for scheduled maintenance is minimal; the real threat comes from the “unexpected challenges of aging equipment that can interrupt service.” Although the athletics complex already provides the facilities, Will said the new pool that McCabe is working on is necessary; he clarified that Laurier’s facility, while “unique and wonderful,” has reached its limits.
“Our aquatics facility is a wonderful training ground… but it is not suitable for elite-level competition,” Will explained. He noted that for Waterloo to host high-level meets, the region needs a facility with two more lanes and much more deck space.
Mayor McCabe’s proposal also faces a geographical reality: Waterloo is short on land. Will echoed this sentiment, describing Laurier as “landlocked.” He noted that a contemporary facility would require a “significantly larger footprint” than what is currently available on campus, suggesting that the city’s move to the west side may be the only viable path forward.
Beyond elite sports, the mayor pointed to a “growing community” that is currently struggling to find pool time. By moving competitive athletes to a new facility, Waterloo hopes that it will free up capacity at other pools for swimming lessons and lifeguards.
Contributed Photo/Sangjun Han/News Director
