McKinnon Pool to close its doors after 50 years

The University of Victoria has made the difficult decision to close McKinnon pool. The facility—a campus fixture for more than five decades—has reached the end of its natural lifecycle and is now too costly to maintain.

McKinnon pool has served as an important training ground for Vikes varsity swimmers and Pacific Coast Swimming (PCS) competitive programs. The pool has also supported the training of nine Olympians and Paralympians—two gold, three silver and four bronze.

Unfortunately, in recent years, the pool has started to show its age and it’s estimated that more than $1.5 million is needed for upgrades.

“McKinnon pool has been a part of campus life for decades and we didn’t make this decision lightly,” says Executive Director, Wellness, Recreation and Athletics, Nicole Greengoe. “While the pool is primarily used by varsity, PCS and some student and alumni clubs, it has low recreational use by students, faculty and staff. 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."

The pool will close by September 15 at the latest.

Active, healthy living continues to be a high priority at UVic, and high-quality recreation and competitive sport programming will continue at McKinnon and at the Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities (CARSA). The Vikes varsity swim program and Pacific Coast Swimming will move to municipal pools in the region, and UVic will assist student aquatic clubs to relocate their activities, where possible. Recreational swimmers can access nearby pool facilities at Gordon Head and Oak Bay recreation centres. 

The university is working to determine how best to use the McKinnon Pool campus footprint moving forward. In the short term, access to the McKinnon building’s change rooms, washrooms and showers will continue to be available for commuters to campus, as well as to students, staff, faculty and sport groups who participate in classes and programs in the McKinnon building. 

“Although the pool has reached the end of its lifecycle, 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 says.

Updates on the pool closure will be posted online throughout the summer months.