The rising mercury in Montreal has families scrambling for swimming lessons, but many are finding themselves high and dry. A critical shortage of public swimming pools across the island has created a perfect storm that’s leaving parents frustrated and swimming instructors concerned about water safety.
“We’ve never seen waiting lists like this,” explains Jean Tremblay, aquatics coordinator at the Côte-des-Neiges Community Center. “Last summer we had maybe 20 children waiting. This year? Over 200. We simply don’t have the water space or enough qualified instructors.”
The problem stems from a combination of factors that have been building for years. According to a recent report from Sport Québec, Montreal has seen five public pools close for major repairs in the last three years, with only two reopening. Add pandemic-related construction delays and the rising costs of pool maintenance, and you have what many are calling a “swimming desert” in several neighborhoods.
I visited the Maisonneuve Pool in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve last Tuesday, where parents lined up for over an hour hoping to secure spots in the fall session. Marie Lapointe, a mother of three, expressed frustration after being turned away.
“My youngest needs to learn to swim before our lake vacation next summer,” she told me while her children played nearby. “Now I’m driving across the city to Verdun twice a week. It’s an hour in traffic each way.”
The problem goes beyond just inconvenience. The Montreal Children’s Hospital reported a 23% increase in water-related emergency visits last summer compared to pre-pandemic numbers. Dr. Claude Garneau, pediatric emergency physician, connects this directly to the lesson shortage.
“Basic swimming skills save lives,” Dr. Garneau emphasized. “When children miss those critical early learning years between ages 4-6, they often develop water anxiety that can follow them into adulthood.”
The situation is equally challenging for competitive swimmers. The Aquatic Club de Montréal, which has produced Olympic talent in the past, has been forced to reduce practice hours by 30% this season.
“Our young athletes are training at 5 a.m. because that’s the only pool time available,” says head coach Sophie Deschamps. “Some families have simply given up because the schedule isn’t sustainable with school.”
The issue reflects a broader infrastructure challenge facing our city. Recreation centers built in the 1970s are showing their age, with mechanical systems failing and repair costs soaring beyond municipal budgets. The Plateau Mont-Royal borough alone estimates needing $12 million to bring its two aging pools up to code.
Montreal’s Executive Committee member responsible for sports and recreation, Marc Tremblay, acknowledges the problem but points to funding challenges.
“We understand the frustration,” Tremblay said during last month’s council meeting. “The reality is that rebuilding a public indoor pool today costs between $15-20 million. We’re working with the provincial government to create a dedicated aquatics infrastructure fund.”
While waiting for political solutions, community organizations are getting creative. The YMCA has partnered with several hotels to offer weekend swimming lessons in their facilities. The innovative program, called “Splash Hotel,” has opened 120 new spots but barely dents the estimated 5,000-person waiting list citywide.
As a lifelong Montrealer who learned to swim at the now-closed Baldwin Pool, I find it particularly disheartening to see children missing this essential life skill. When I was growing up in Ville-Émard, our local pool was the summer social hub – a place where I not only learned to swim but developed confidence and made friends from across the neighborhood.
For families caught in this shortage, experts recommend exploring alternatives like private clubs offering short-term memberships, backyard pool-sharing programs through apps like “Swimply,” and outdoor swimming options at regional parks when weather permits.
The city promises three new aquatic centers by 2027, but for parents like Marie Lapointe, that’s too little, too late.
“My kids will be teenagers by then,” she sighs. “Some things can’t wait for budget cycles.”
As Montreal continues to promote itself as a family-friendly city, this growing swimming pool shortage represents a significant challenge to that image – and more importantly, to the safety and well-being of our youngest citizens.
