With a warm stretch of weather expected past the Labour Day long weekend, Mayor Olivia Chow was joined by Councillor Michael Thompson (Scarborough Centre) to announce that the City of Toronto is extending its operations at ten outdoor pools for an additional three weeks, weather permitting, from Labour Day, Monday, September 2, until Sunday, September 22.
Like many other North American cities, Toronto is experiencing warmer than usual temperatures into September. By keeping some outdoor pools open into September, the City is providing another option for residents and families to cool down during warm late summer days.
The ten pools that have been extended were chosen based on location, availability of staff, and sufficient lighting for evening programming, as the sun goes down earlier in September.
Pools with extended operations will be open from 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays and from noon to 7 p.m. on weekends. The selected pools located across the city are:
Leisure swim will be available at all ten locations listed above and lane swim will be available at select locations. Up-to-date information on extended outdoor pool hours and locations along with splash and spray pads is available by calling 311 or visiting the City’s Swimming & Water Play webpage
All other City-owned and operated pools will close Sunday, September 1 at 4 p.m.
Wading pools will also close for the season on September 1 at the locations regularly scheduled time.
Splash around a little longer
The City’s more than 140 splash and spray pads – which have been open across Toronto since Saturday, May 18 – will continue to operate until Sunday, September 15 daily, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Where paws meet the pool
On the last day of the outdoor pool season, the City will offer free, dogs-only swim at several locations. The dogs-only swim will take place in the last two hours of the operating season at the following pools on:
Sunday, September 1, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 22, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
For more information on this dog-only swim event, visit the City’s webpage
The following beaches will also have extended supervised swim zones from Tuesday, September 3 to Sunday, September 8. Lifeguards will be on duty between 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Media requests to film
Media requests to film pools can be accommodated at the following locations:
These designated locations allow media to film from the pool deck without the need to call in advance. Media access will be permitted at these locations only and media must follow staff instructions at the site.
Quotes:
“By keeping pools open longer, we can provide a vital, accessible way for people to have fun and stay cool as we experience warmer and longer summer weather. Extending pool hours is not just about recreation; it’s a strategic response to climate change.”
– Mayor Olivia Chow
“Extending pool hours past Labour Day ensures that communities have more time to enjoy a vital respite from the heat, offering a refreshing way to cool down.”
– Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie (Scarborough-Rouge Park), Chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee
“We love our neighbourhood pools. This fall you can keep swimming at multiple city outdoor pools across Toronto, in addition to indoor pools which will continue to be available as the weather gets colder.”
– Councillor Michael Thompson (Scarborough Centre)
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