Attendance at city outdoor pools down from last summer

Edmonton's outdoor public pools have seen a drop in attendance this summer. CTV News Edmonton's Marek Tkach breaks down the numbers.

While this week has the ideal temperatures for a cool down in the pool, the rest of the summer has proven to be not so picture-perfect for lounging at one of the city’s five outdoor pools.

Shauna Graham, site coordinator and operations supervisor for Edmonton’s leisure centres, said the number of rainstorms this year has resulted in lower attendance.

• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

“People just weren’t coming out in big numbers like last year,” Graham told CTV News Edmonton. “This year we just had rain, so people aren’t looking for some place to cool off … to get away from the heat.

“If it’s not nice, people don’t come.”

However, CTV News Edmonton’s chief meteorologist Josh Classen has said this summer has seen close to average rainfall.

As of Aug. 25, 78,707 people attended Edmonton outdoor pools:

• 4,512 - Borden Natural Swimming Pool (opened in late July due to renovations)
• 22,659 - Fred Broadstock
• 16,135 - Mill Creek
• 24,532 - Queen Elizabeth
• 10,869 - Wîhkwêntôwin

In 2024, pools saw nearly 89,000 visitors:

• 11,826 - Borden Natural Swimming Pool
• 23,916 - Fred Broadstock
• 14,916 - Mill Creek
• 26,242 - Queen Elizabeth
• 11,756 - Wîhkwêntôwin

The last day to take a dip in the outdoor pools is Sept. 1, despite the heat wave.

“We just don’t have enough staffing,” said Graham, adding that much of their seasonal staff are going back to school.

Eli Steeves, lifeguard and team lead at Wîhkwêntôwin pool, said that the hot weather the city is seeing this week, is what is hoped for in July and August.

“It’s definitely been at a lower level of occupancy with the weather being a little chillier than average,” Steeves said. “It’s one of these things that our outdoor pools are totally dependent on sunshine, and we haven’t had a lot of it this summer.”

Queen Elizabeth pool will remain open with a combination of public swim, lane swim and rentals until Sept. 14. The pool may be open beyond the 14th for rentals only, weather permitting.

Timed entries will no longer be available at Queen Elizabeth after Sept. 1.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Marek Tkach