What pool closures in Canada mean for health

Community pools are disappearing from the Canadian landscape, often among the first casualties of tightening public budg ets.Although some may view public pools as "nice to have," these facilities must be seen as essential tools in the public health ar senal.Aquatic activities offer unique and versatile health and social benefits for healthy individuals and those with pre-existing med ical conditions, and swimming is a critical life skill.A unique opportunity to repair and build neglected pool infrastructure exists in the Community Stream of the federal government's Build Communities Strong Fund initiative, announced in March 2026. 1 We argue aquatic facilities should be prioritized in the disbursement of the $30 billion in available funding.Development of pool infrastructure in Canada has not kept pace with population growth.Frequent news reports highlight waiting lists for swim lessons, 2 temporary and permanent pool closures, [3][4][5] and community-led attempts to save pools, including court challenges. 6According to Statistics Canada data, many public pools are at or nearing the end of their lifespan, with only about half rated in good or very good physical condition in 2022. 7Downsizing replacement pools further limits access, as 50-m pools can offer up to 3 times as much programming as 25-m pools. 8wimming is widely regarded as one of the most effective fullbody workouts, simultaneously loading almost all major muscle groups against the resistance of water while supporting cardiorespiratory fitness.A 2024 meta-analysis of longitudinal studies of sports interventions found that swimmers had a 24% lower rate of all-cause mortality than nonparticipants. 9In a 2019 British study, swimming was associated with a 6.4% improvement in general health, including a 3.1% improvement in mental health, compared with the average population. 10Buoyancy makes swimming a low-impact activity accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels, particularly for those with limited mobility because of disability, injury, or pregnancy.A 2022 meta-analysis showed improvements in balance, strength, pain, cardiorespiratory fitness, and quality of life with 8 to 16 weeks of pool-based therapy in patients with multiple chronic conditions, including fibromyalgia, hypertension, coronary artery disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson disease. 11Pools are also a means to mitigate heat stress.Research in New York found that, as the heat index increases, heat-related emergency calls increase directly with walking time to a pool, particularly in low-income neighbour-