A commentary by a third-year student at the University of Victoria.
I am very involved in aquatics at the University of Victoria, working as a lifeguard and serving as co-president of the UVic Artistic Swimming Club.
To say I was shocked by the university’s announcement to close the McKinnon pool would be an understatement. The announcement came very suddenly to constituents; no notice was given on the topic.
Since I began working at the facility a few years ago, the pool has declined in condition, but no significant efforts to improve the pool’s condition have been made to mitigate the need to close the facility.
I find it extremely disappointing that so many groups will lose the facility they call home. I am disappointed in the lack of recognition from the university for the wide variety of clubs that will lose their space, not just varsity and Pacific Coast Swimming.
The university’s statement mentions use from student clubs but then cites low use by students — but students make up a huge portion of the pool’s user base besides just varsity teams.
Student clubs like Artistic Swimming, Triathlon, Kayaking, and Waterpolo all practise at the pool, and will lose their sport.
These clubs provide incredibly important support networks to students who are passionate about aquatics.
For Artistic Swimming, the athlete-run and funded club represents the university at national competitions, and has been successful in recent years.
It was just announced that the Canadian National Championships for University Artistic Swimming are to be held in Victoria at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in March 2025.
With this recent news, as well as the announcement from the university, the club is left in limbo, hoping we will be able to find a pool so we can continue as a club and represent as the home team at nationals.
In addition to student sports and public lane swims, the McKinnon pool offers private lessons.
As an instructor, I have been told by parents how much they love the lesson program offered due to its tailored approach of teaching to children’s needs.
Some parents have even called it a hidden gem. In closing the pool, a high-quality source for swimming lessons will no longer be available to families, making them search for new lessons — which are already in high demand across Victoria.
Which stakeholders and community members, if any, were consulted? Will the other facilities in the Victoria community be able to absorb the high user base on such short notice?
In addition to the lack of consulting with those most affected, the timing of the announcement is hugely consequential.
Many of the student users of the pool are away for the summer, and it is therefore harder to push back against the university’s decision. With the closure date being no later than Sept. 15, students have little time to mobilize when they are back to campus.
Taking away the McKinnon pool with no plans to build a new one is a huge blow to the aquatics community at UVic, and its effects will be felt across the city.
Aquatics builds support networks and bonds, and develops lifelong skills. The University of Victoria will soon be one of the few major universities in Canada without its own pool.
The decision to pull the plug speaks volumes on the university’s priorities, and is extremely disappointing.
A school that in writing supports mental health and wellness should not take away the home of an entire community that supports exactly that.
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