Outdoor pools, supervised beaches to open in Halifax on Canada Day

An outdoor pool is pictured in Bedford, N.S. (Source: halifax.ca)

All remaining outdoor pools in the Halifax Regional Municipality will open for the season on Canada Day.

The Halifax Common pool, as well as municipal splash pads, already opened on June 15.

The outdoor pools in Bedford and Cole Harbour, as well as supervised municipal beaches, will open next Wednesday.

A list of all the supervised beaches can be found on the municipality’s website.

Swim passes for the two outdoor pools can be purchased online or in person at the LeBrun Recreation Centre in Bedford or at the Cole Harbour Recreation Centre.

Both pools will be free on Canada Day.

Access to the Halifax Common pool is always free.

The municipality says it will also begin testing water quality for bacteria levels and monitoring for blue-green algae at supervised beaches on Canada Day.

The testing will continue until the end of August.

“High bacteria levels can be caused by a number of factors, including dogs, birds, wildlife, heavy rainfall and impacts from climate change such as high temperatures, lower water levels and decreased rainfall,” reads a municipal news release.

If the beaches close due to high bacteria levels, they will reopen once tests results are within Health Canada guidelines for swimming.

If they close due to possible blue-green algae, they will reopen once the toxin risk passes.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page