The University of Victoria will be closing its McKinnon pool by mid-September after the swimming spot supported campus aquatics for more than 50 years.
The pool has reached the end of its life and is too costly to maintain, with more than $1.5 million in upgrades needed, the university said on July 2.
The decision to close the pool wasn't made lightly, UVic's executive director of wellness, recreation and activity said. While it's mainly used by Vikes varsity athletes and the Pacific Coast Swimming club, the pool sees little recreational use from students, faculty and staff, Nicole Greengoe said in a news release.
"The university has to balance the significant cost of upgrading and maintaining the facility alongside investments in infrastructure and programming that benefit the entire campus community," Greengoe said.
Over the years, the McKinnon pool supported the training of nine Olympians and Paralympians, with those athletes winning two golds among their nine medals in total.
"Its legacy will live on through the stories and experiences of those who have had a long relationship with this facility and who have enjoyed the pool, trained and excelled here,” Greengoe said.
Varsity and Pacific Coast Swimming athletes will move their training to other municipal pools in the region, but recreational and competitive programming at McKinnon will continue until its September closure.
The school said it will help student aquatic clubs relocate where possible and advised recreational swimmers that they can access pool facilities at the Gordon Head and Oak Bay recreation centres.
The McKinnon Building's change rooms, washrooms and showers will remain open to the UVic community as the university decides how to best use the pool's footprint in the future.
