Why you should vote yes in the Crystal Pool Referendum
The Crystal Pool Referendum is Saturday, February 8, 2025 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Residents of Victoria will have the opportunity to vote on two things:
- if the City of Victoria may borrow up to $168.9 million to replace the pool
- a preferred site option: Central Park North or Central Park South.
Top 5 reasons you should vote yes to $168.9 million to replacement:
1. Refurbishing won’t meet community needs and is too risky.
We are a long way from the day when the facility could be refurbished. The typical lifespan of an aquatic facility is 25 years – Crystal Pool was built almost 55 years ago. If you are being told we can refurbish, it is by someone who does not understand the history, current state and future needs of the facility.
- The Architecture Planning Interiors, July, 2011 report recommended a new facility (“Considering value for money, a replacement facility would serve the city and its residents better.”) as have others since then.
- HCMA Crystal Pool Feasibility Study published September 2017 stated that working within the existing building carries a higher level of risk through the construction process, arising from the possibility of unknown conditions.
Refurbishing would mean NO POOL for an undetermined period of time.
2. It is a myth that there other pools where people can swim.
- University of Victoria’s McKinnon Pool is closed (8 x 25 meter lanes)
- YMCA Downtown and will soon close (July 2025?) with no known replacement plans (3 x 25 meter lanes)
- Crystal Pool is 16 x 25 meter lanes
The loss of the 3 pools displaces approximately 7,000 swimmers. This includes the loss of children’s lessons, swim clubs, adult swim lessons and swim fit clubs, seniors aqua fit, scuba diving, free diving, Friday night teen drop-in, family swim, and all of the other healthy activities that take place in these facilities.
3. Swimming pools reduce healthcare costs and reduce doctor visits.
It is a known fact, that providing places where people can mange their fitness, improves health outcomes. This is in part why governments at all levels fund recreation facilities. Each person who exercises regularly saves government $2,500 in healthcare costs each year. The savings from Crystal Pool alone is over $10,000 annually. So even if you don’t swim, by voting yes you are helping lighten the load on our healthcare system by helping others help themselves.
You can learn more here about the impact of swimming pools on our healthcare system here.
4. Swimming pools help improve mental health and reduce social service costs.
You can watch more videos on how swimming helps your mental health here.
5. Swimming pools reduce police costs.
In 2015 when Stantic did their report the new pool and recreation centre would have cost $36M, 80% less than today. Say yes now before its too late. On February 8th make your voice count. Swimming pools help build strong communities. Lets be stronger! Find out where you can vote here.