Pool Updates and FAQ
Thursday, March 13
We thank the community for your patience. Our goal remains to reopen the pool as quickly and safely as possible. We know the pool closure has been extremely disruptive, and we want to ensure the community that staff have been putting every effort towards a path to reopening with the regulator, Vancouver Coastal Health.
We are now able to provide an update on our progress over the course of the past few weeks.
The District worked in close coordination with VCH to determine the required next steps for reopening. The path to regulatory approval of any measures put forward by the District, interim or otherwise, requires a signed and sealed professional engineer’s report supporting the proposed solution. As a result the District engaged a Professional Engineer to oversee and report on Dynamic Coefficient of Friction testing on February 28, 2025. Testing was completed in accordance with standards set by the Terrazzo, Tile and Marble Association of Canada and the American National Standards Institute. The District received a report on March 10 which confirmed that acceptable slip resistance measurements were achieved on the floor tiles, meeting both relevant Canadian and American specifications. These measurements, and the supporting documentation, form the basis of the District’s request for reopening the pool.
These results have been submitted to Vancouver Coastal Health in the form of a signed and sealed professional engineers report, and we are anticipating acceptance of these findings and being able to announce a re-opening plan in the near future.
“I’m happy that our team has found a way through what has been an extremely challenging Vancouver Coastal Health regulatory process,” says District of Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford. “We understand the impacts the closure has had on staff, pool user groups and the broader community and look forward to welcoming everyone back to the pool as soon as possible.”
The Steam Room unfortunately does not meet acceptable anti-slip levels as confirmed by the most recent testing and is expected to continue to remain closed. The reopening of the pool is a primary focus, and we will continue to work on developing remediation plans for the steam room as a secondary priority.
Next steps will require further collaboration with VCH, as well as operational considerations (filling the pool, testing levels, etc.) and recalling and rehiring staff.
We will provide a further update on Monday, March 17 with as much new information we can provide.
We sincerely thank the community for your ongoing patience throughout the closure. We understand impacts of the closure on our staff, user groups and community, and we continue to work diligently to re-open the pool as quickly and safely as possible to get back to serving the community with this important and well-loved recreational asset.
For more information and FAQs regarding the Pool Closure, please continue to visit Pool Updates and FAQ at squamish.ca/pool.
March 3, 2025
Following is an update on the pool deck status and related closure as of March 3. We will continue to provide updates and information as the work continues to evolve. This is our top priority and we are working closely with Vancouver Coastal Health and professional specialized contractors to submit a proposal to Vancouver Coastal Health for approval to re-open the pool as quickly and safely as possible.
Registration for all spring aquatics programming is temporarily on hold and Spring Break aquatics programming has unfortunately had to be cancelled as we don’t anticipate the issues to be resolved by this time. All registered participants will receive notices of cancellation and refunds will automatically be issued by the end of this week. We hope to be able to provide a better timeline estimate once the plan from VCH is approved, however additional considerations such as final approach and staffing capacity will determine a more realistic reopening date.
We thank the community for your ongoing patience while we work to resolve these issues. We have heard feedback and concerns from our patrons and user groups regarding the impacts of the closure, and we are doing our best to respond to and provide updates as the work continues. Please be assured that re-opening the pool as quickly and safely as possible to get back to serving the community with this important recreational asset is our top priority.
For the latest updates, please continue to visit our Pool Closure FAQ at squamish.ca/pool
Thursday, February 27
District staff are actively working on solutions to address the pool deck slipping hazard, that has resulted in its closure. The timeline for reopening is dependent on identifying corrective actions, implementing them, undergoing inspections, receiving VCH approval, and operational considerations. At this time, the pool is estimated to remain closed for at least four weeks (from the February 14 update), though this could extend further depending on the required work and approval process.
For more information and FAQs regarding the Pool Closure, please visit Pool Updates and FAQ below. We will continue to share updates as more information becomes available.
We understand this closure is frustrating, and we appreciate your patience as we work towards reopening.
February 12, 2025
After a recent safety inspection, Vancouver Coastal Health has determined that the Brennan Park Pool deck does not meet the required anti-slip standards for wet surfaces and has ordered an immediate pool closure until further notice as a health and safety precaution. Vancouver Coastal Health treats facility closures as high priority given the impacts and importance to the community. District staff are working to remedy the slipping hazard and minimize the length of closure. We understand that residents will feel frustrated by this situation, and we are doing everything we can to re-open quickly and safely.
Thank you for your patience while we work through this process.
Following a report from a patron who slipped in the steam room, the District is conducting an assessment of the slip-resistance of the tiled surfaces within the steam room and pool area. Vancouver Coastal Health is advising staff through this process.
Pool Closure FAQ
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) has the regulatory authority to authorize closures under the Public Health Act.
After a February 11 safety inspection, Vancouver Coastal Health determined that the Brennan Park Pool deck does not meet the required anti-slip standards for wet surfaces and ordered an immediate pool closure until further notice as a health and safety precaution.
Under the BC Public Health Act Pool Regulation, a pool operator must ensure that pool aprons, walkways and floors have a surface that is slip-resistant when wet.
On January 15, Vancouver Coastal Health conducted a site inspection and observed that the existing tile floors around the pool, steam room appeared slippery and may no longer meet the required anti-slip standards.
Vancouver Coastal Health ordered a closure of the steam room and further testing of multiple tiled surfaces within the pool area.
Slip-resistance testing was carried out at the pool by an independent third party on February 11, under the direction of Vancouver Coastal Health.
The results of this further testing indicated that the tiles did not meet the required anti-slip standards for wet surfaces. Because the slip-resistance did not meet the required standards for wet surfaces, VCH ordered a closure order, effective on February 12.
Vancouver Coastal Health inspects the pool on an as-needed basis. Since 2015, Vancouver Coastal Health has conducted more than 30 routine inspections. None of the inspection reports were related to anti-slip measures.
There are various methodologies to enhance the slip-resistance of existing tiles. Staff are currently reviewing the most appropriate corrective solutions to remediate the situation to ensure a safe environment. As a part of this process, any corrective action must be reviewed by Vancouver Coastal Health prior to the work commencing.
Yes. The tiled surfaces are original and date back to the pool’s opening in 1992 for both the pool deck and steam room flooring.
We anticipate a re-opening timeline in the coming days. In addition to further collaboration with VCH, re-opening the pool involves operational considerations (filling the pool, testing levels, etc.) and recalling and rehiring staff.
Slip testing was previously not part of our annual shutdown tasks, however this is now under review.
Regular shutdown tasks are currently underway and may assist in reducing the fall shutdown.
All Spring Break aquatics programming has unfortunately been cancelled and registration for all aquatics programming is temporarily on hold. All registered participants will receive notices of cancellation on Monday, March 3. Refunds will automatically be issued by the end of this week.
Yes. Because there may be changes to swimming lessons being offered this spring, all residents are being asked to register for aquatics programming on a first-come-first-served basis.
We are working closely with Vancouver Coastal Health, preparing the pool for final inspection and re-opening, and recalling Lifeguards.
For those who registered in-person or with account credit, refunds will be automatically applied as an account credit.
For those who registered online, refunds will be issued to the original form of payment (account credit or credit card).
If you have any questions regarding your account please contact us at 604.898.3604
Pool Information
Wait times may vary.
The following descriptions and schedule are best viewed in landscape mode on mobile devices.
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Aquafit All fitness levels welcome. Exercises can be modified to increase or decrease the intensity based on individual fitness levels. |
Lane Swim Minimum 1 lane available for swimming lengths for those 16+. Hot tub & steam room available during this time. |
Swim Lesson/Swim Clubs Only Pool use is for registered swim lesson and swim club participants. During this time, there is no public access to non-lesson spaces such as the warm pool, the hot tub or the steam room. |
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Public Swim The Main Pool, including the beach area and diving board, as well as the hot tub, the steam room and the warm pool are available for families to play in. |
Parent & Child Swim Come on down for a family visit to the pool. Parents must accompany children 16y and under in the water and remember to keep all children under the age of 7 within arm's reach. |
Shared Pool Space Areas of the Main Pool as well as the hot tub, steam room and warm pool are available. Main Pool spaces & features change throughout the day to accommodate other activities. |
The District of Squamish adheres to capacity limits and Lifeguard-swimmer ratios set by Lifesaving Society Canada in order to maintain a safe level of supervision at the Brennan Park Aquatic Centre. Lifeguard ratios are determined by water surface areas and the number of recreational swimmers so that Lifeguards can supervise all areas of the pool that are accessible to bathers/swimmers during recreational swim periods.
Lifesaving Society Canada’s National Safety Standards are developed using Coroners’ recommendations, the latest evidence-based research, and reflect the aquatic industry’s best practices to prevent drownings and aquatic-related injuries in aquatic environments. The ratio of one Lifeguard for every 50 patrons (1:50) is the ratio determined by the Health Act.
Squamish Recreation Services offers Lifeguard certification programs to ensure local access to a qualified, consistent Lifeguard base necessary in order maintain the minimum 1:50 Lifeguard to bather requirement. To learn more contact our Customer Service team at 604.898.3604.
Brennan Park Recreation Centre staff strive to create an equitable, enjoyable experience for everyone.
Pool entry wait times may be longer than usual and pool capacities may be reduced in order to maintain the required 1:50 lifeguard-to-swimmer ratio. Please also remember that children under age 7 must be within arms reach of a responsible adult.
Brennan Park pool accessibility features include a beach-style entry to the main pool, ramp entry to the teach pool and hot tub, pool-safe wheelchairs and accessible changeroom features. For any questions about the accessible features at Brennan Park Recreation Centre please contact Customer Service at 604.898.3604.
Thank you for your patience and see you at Brennan Park!
Online Schedule Information
How to Use the Online Schedule:
Please note:
- The pool schedule is subject to change. Please check online before heading to the pool for the most up-to-date information.
Admission Fees and Customer Service
Accessibility
Facility Information
