In your head, think of how massive an Olympic pool is. Here I’ll even give you a picture of one:

janeb13. ‘Olympic Pool’ 2016. JPG file. / Pixabay

Now triple that length – that’s how long the Kitsilano Pool is. At a whopping 137 metres, it is the longest pool in Canada, and the longest outdoor pool in North America. I wonder if Olympians rent the place to practice super long distance swimming!

I remember when I was first taking swimming lessons, the main pools I would go to were the ones at C.G. Brown and Bonsor Recreation Centre. As a 6-year old, the pool seemed vast and unknown, which also came with giving me an irrational fear of seeing a shark in the pool (almost everyone has thought about this). The chlorine smell stuck to my skin after every lesson, and hugely differed from my trips to the beach. Now when I compare them to Kitsilano Pool, they seem like a breeze to swim across versus the longest pool in Canada.

It’s also the only saltwater pool in Vancouver, letting all patrons simulate what it’s like to be at a seaside, but without all the sand. Back when it opened in 1931, it actually used tidal water from English Bay, which resulted in various sealife being in the pool. It maintained its sandy bottom until 1960, which then was remolded due to health and circulation concerns.

Today, the pool’s design is very different from when it first opened. In 1978, the overhaul began with goals to provide a safer environment for visitors. As recently as 2018, the pool received an upgrade that aimed to reduce the usage of potable water. Kitsilano Pool is mostly open during the summertime, as that is when people of all ages can enjoy its specialties most frequently.