The following brief was presented to Councillor Lindell Smith regarding Centennial Pool on October 19, 2023.
This brief is submitted by the committee to Save Centennial Pool from disposal on behalf of the Centennial Pool Association.
The committee was originally formed in July of 2023 at the Annual General Meeting of the Centennial Pool Association. While the Committee initially included some members of the Board, it is now more broadly represented by volunteers from the larger community of Centennial Pool users.
The committee was initially formed in response to a motion to Council that asked city staff to prepare a report that would:
- Dispose of Centennial Pool as surplus property for economic development. This means selling this public land to developers. Note: there is a local developer who has already expressed interest in buying this land.
- Plan for the development of a new 50m pool that meets the Canada Games requirements for competitive swimming and diving and is consistent with the pre-Covid 2019 Long-Term Aquatic Strategy (LTAS). It is important to note that this pool would NOT be on the peninsula.
- The motion also states “to recover aquatic service in the area (in other words – to satisfy the needs of teams/groups and community swimmers), the motion proposes to prioritize the Needham Community Centre replacement to ensure the continuity of municipal pool access.
- The motion presented as the reason to dispose of Centennial Pool is that it is nearing the end of its useful life. This is a perceived notion – there is no evidence given that this is true. In fact, research done by this committee demonstrates the opposite to this position.
A copy of the 2022 motion is attached with this brief. (download PDF)
The Save Centennial Pool Committee, user groups, swim teams and the larger community of Centennial pool users believe that Waye Mason’s motion to dispose of Centennial Pool presents only one side of the story and underestimates the value of Centennial Pool not only to the swimming community but the broader general population of HRM. His motion is sadly short-sighted.
The motion is flawed in that is does not consider the value of Centennial Pool in terms of its historical significance, its unique architectural importance, the impact on the community of health and wellness, its economic and social impact as well as the negative consequences related to climate change and the environment.
The motion is flawed when it suggests that prioritization of the Needham Pool will ensure continuity of municipal pool access on the peninsula and recover aquatic service to the area. Refurbishing or rebuilding Needham will NOT be able to compensate for the loss of Centennial.
Most concerning is that the motion asserts that Centennial Pool is at the end of its so-called “life cycle”. There is no evidence that this is the case.
Buildings, physical structures, bridges, houses, etc. have a natural expected lifetime beyond which they must be replaced. Structures do deteriorate with time but time is only one factor that would determine life span. See [the attached document from] the report by Ellis Betensky, “Factors Determining Swimming Pool Longevity” for numerous examples of historic pools built long before 1967 that are still operating.
A refurbished Needham Pool will not meet the needs of the swim teams that use Centennial Pool for competitive training.
A new 50m pool to meet Canada Games requirements is not a replacement for Centennial Pool and results in a net loss to all residents of HRM but most of all to the centre of the peninsula, the very area that is the fastest growing part of the city. The demand is increasing and will continue to grow in the foreseeable future.
Councillors who voted for the June 2022 motion only had limited information and were likely not aware that the motion will result in a net loss affecting:
- Economic Impact
- Public Need for Public Facilities
- Accessibility and Affordability
- Health and Wellness
- Heritage, Culture, Architecture
- Climate and environment
The motion is clearly one-sided and designed to produce the outcome sought by Councillor Mason. It asks for a staff report to support the disposal and sale of a public asset for short term economic gain for developers and questionable gain for HRM.
The motion fails to direct staff to look at all options for this historic community asset.
The motion ties the building of a new 50-metre pool to the loss of Centennial Pool when what HRM needs is an additional new facility to meet the growing demands of the burgeoning population of HRM.
The Save Centennial Pool Committee has been actively gathering information and engaging with the Centennial Pool community, teams, groups, individual swimmers and other from a wide range of backgrounds and extensive experience and knowledge when it comes to the value of Centennial Pool. The devastating impact that would result from the loss of this facility is evident. The attached impact statements are a sample of the response to date.
The motion was tabled without any meaningful public engagement and is based on information that is pre-Covid, or from the 2019 Long-Term Aquatic Strategy.
We encourage all those with decision-making authority to imagine what an enhanced Centennial Pool with additional public recreational and community space perhaps integrated with the new Mi’kmaq Friendship Centre and a redeveloped Cogswell area. Imagine a new community Health and Wellness Centre with the pool as a key component: partnering with Capital Health with a walk-health clinic; a centre that offers affordable and accessible services for all residents of HRM.
Connecting this to the redeveloped Cogswell area would create a public recreational and community green belt that extends from the waterfront to the Oval, Citadel High facilities, the new seasonal pool, and the Halifax Common. This would be a legacy everyone could be proud of.
The LTAS provided that Regional Council may choose to direct staff to consider alternatives to the directions in the LTAS to dispose of Centennial Pool, therefore we are asking for the following:
- A motion to direct staff to prepare a report that would outline the option of maintaining Centennial Pool as a public community and cultural asset that represents a significant part of the built heritage of modern Halifax and provides for the growing demands of our rapidly increasing population. It is undisputed that we need more public assets that promote health and wellness and allow for the active participation of all ages, economic status and abilities.
- We are also requesting that the motion provide that staff examine securing funding and identify revenue sources from provincial and federal sources to build the new 50 m pool with Canada Games specifications without relying on the sale of the Centennial site or projected revenues from a new tax base that would be the result from another high rise of unaffordable units.
It appears that no thought was given to refurbishing or rebuilding Centennial on the same site in the future, and keeping it publicly owned and operated.
Is building the new 50m super pool on the Centennial site possible? This has never been looked at. Perhaps HRM could partner with Dalhousie University to make this happen?
Vision and imagination are what is needed from Council in order to meet the changing demographics of HRM.
Reasons to Save Centennial
We expand on the reasons to save Centennial below:
- Economic Impact
- Public Need for Public Facilities
- Accessibility and Affordability
- Health and Wellness
- Heritage, Culture, Architecture
- Climate and Environment
Economic Impact ↺
The current and potential economic value of Centennial Pool to the swimming community and the general public is tremendous and will be ongoing. It is short sighted to dispose of Centennial Pool – the lost economic potential far exceeds the $10M Councillor Mason expects to realize from the sale.
The expected usage and demand for this facility now and in the future justifies keeping the pool as a public resource. The city is experiencing consistent pressure from private developers to sell the Centennial Pool property but this too is short sighted and ignores the best interests of the public.
It is important not to give in to private greed over public need.
HRM’s “inclusive Economic Strategy 2022-27 envisions a HRM population of 650,000 in 2037, a 35% increase from the current level of approximately 480,000 and that is only fourteen years from today. Much of this population increase would accrue to the Halifax peninsula due to HRM’s densification policy. It cannot be denied that there will be a need for additional aquatic facilities going forward. Dispose of existing viable facilities runs counter to overall capacity enhancement.
The Province and its taxpayers struggle to meet the rising cost of health care. There are long-term, positive economic impacts gained from a public facility that promotes physical, mental and social health and wellness.
An interesting study in Australia found a benefit of $26 Australian dollars per pool visit in health care savings.
Centennial Pool is not nearing the end of its life.
Public Need for Public Facilities ↺
Centennial Pool is a vital part of the community infrastructure and a valued public resource. Former Councillor Sheila Fougere put it succinctly when she commented to me “Stop selling off public assets. Building age is not a determination of capacity to serve the public need.”
The current increasing population density has resulted in increased use. There is evidence of this as the swim lesson wait lists in HRM facilities exceed in number those able to be accommodated. Pool time demand by user groups exceeds availability with the current capacity. HRM needs another aquatic facility (a new “super pool”) in addition to keeping and enhancing what we already have in Centennial Pool. Selling Centennial would be a huge mistake and a disservice to residents. Replacing Centennial Pool – an integral part of Halifax’s urban landscape with another privately owned high rise, would be a regrettable, predictable mistake.
Accessibility and Affordability ↺
Location, location, location! A significant current and future positive impact of not dispose of Centennial Pool can be attributed to where the pool is located. It makes no sense to remove a public, year-round recreational facility with equitable access for every citizen, regardless of age, physical ability or socioeconomic status. Its’ locale spurs walkability and cycling which in turn fosters affordability and availability. It is close to transit and has available short term parking. One of the largest and most diverse high schools in HRM, Citadel High, is located next door.
Members of the Canadian military are able to swim at Centennial Pool, without cost. They have no other pool readily accessible to train and keep them fit since the Stadacona Pool has closed. Centennial Pool provides an essential training facility for them.
New Canadians to HRM also can enjoy the benefits of Centennial Pool at no cost. For many cultures swimming is not common, particularly for women, and swimming at Centennial Pool assists in integrating new Canadians into Canadian culture.
Facilities run by private/institutional organizations serve their own clientele first, not the public. They are generally not affordable or accessible to the public who are not part of their clientele.
Health and Wellness ↺
Nigel Kemp, renowned Halifax former Olympic and Masters swimming coach, stated
“I have witnessed the transformative power of Centennial Pool, it is in its prime condition and serves as a beacon for physical and mental well-being within our community.”
The proposed demolition threatens to take away this crucial resource from our community. It is not just about swimming,
It is about promoting healthy life styles, fostering social interactions and providing an essential recreational space that contributes significantly to the quality of life in Halifax.
According to Stats Canada 2016, regular physical activity like swimming can reduce the risk of heart disease by 22% for adults.
Nigel also believes that swimming is a cost-effective activity across the lifetime.
“Regular physical activity is one of the most important things people can do for a healthy life. Not only does it significantly reduce the risk of numerous non-communicable diseases, but it also improves mental health and well-being.”
(WHO/OECD-2023)
Selling Centennial and reducing the aquatic capacity on the peninsula would deny the citizens of positive health and wellness benefit. Keeping Centennial Pool open as a public resource that leads to improved health prevents future expenses in the health care system.
Heritage, Culture, Architecture ↺
Centennial Pool was built in 1967 to commemorate Canada’s 100th Birthday. It represents an important part of our local and national history and stands proudly as a distinctive and imposing example of 1960’s mid-century modern architecture.
One of the pool’s attractive features, still enjoyed, is its semi-A-frame backdrop of stained and laminated pine beams. It also benefits from daylight through the windows set high in the east and west walls.
The pool’s importance to the province as the centre for diving was aptly demonstrated during the 1969 Canada Games, when Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau did a somersault dive off the diving tower.
Centennial Pool has been the proving ground for generations of Nova Scotia competitive swimmers, swimming instructors, coaches, lifeguards and leisure swimmers.
The disappearance of this iconic landmark would constitute and deprive citizens of Halifax an integral part of their cultural identity.
Doing away with a Canadian legacy facility that celebrates the Centennial and Canada is wrong.
Preserving our heritage is priceless and should not be measured solely by age or financial considerations.
Climate and Environment ↺
Disposing of Centennial Pool and selling the land to developers because of recent maintenance costs and the perceived notion that “Centennial Pool is nearing the end of its useful life”, Councillor Waye Mason, June 28, 2022, are based on selective inferences of the LTAS.
It is undisputed that demolishing buildings adds to increased greenhouse gas.
We do not expect all buildings to be disposed of at a certain age and we should not expect swimming pools to have a predetermined life expectancy. Buildings deteriorate as a result of many factors, including wear, environmental conditions, maintenance and design limitations like choice of materials.
Centennial Pool was built at a time when stronger concrete was used and it is likely overbuilt.
The LTAS was written in 2019 pre-Covid. Much has changed. While the LTAS recognizes the population growth trends and the groups to service, it focuses on the replacement of Centennial; instead of adding additional facilities to the growing demand for aquatic facilities.
A key finding in the LTAS recognized that “lowering fees and upgrading and enhancing facilities” were two factors that could encourage more aquatic participation. The main barrier to participation expressed was “not having enough aquatic facilities nearby”. Again, what is needed is an additional aquatic facility not a replacement of Centennial Pool that is “nearby” to the growing population.
The LTAS identifies the two oldest recreational aquatic facilities, Needham and the old Halifax Common outdoor pool as not fully meeting current program requirements and having the lowest recreational participation but located within areas of anticipated residential growth: the Regional Centre. The old outdoor pool was at the end of its life cycle, Needham is “nearing the end of its life cycle” NOT Centennial Pool. We have now spent $20 million on the new outdoor pool, available at the most for three months of the year, and the plan on refurbishing Needham is being prioritized.
Recent financial investment of approximately $1 million in Centennial Pool and its history of being a well-managed facility have resulted in Centennial Pool being in its “best ever” condition.
Structure is usually the longest lasting element, and there are many, many pools that have significantly exceeded this length of time which are still in operation. Since Centennial was built in the 1960’s and was likely 30% overbuilt, it is a good candidate for refurbishing to extend its life well into the future. (See attached Factors Determining Swimming Pool Longevity.)
CENTENNIAL POOL IS NOT NEARING THE END OF ITS LIFE.