‘We’re heartbroken’: Demolition begins at Happyland Pool

Crews started tearing down the Happyland Pool in St. Boniface after it closed in 2023.

Demolition began on a St. Boniface community pool on Thursday, after a year-long community fight to save it.

Folks picketed as a backhoe began tearing down Happyland Pool—one of three pools and 20 wading pools slated to be replaced or decommissioned as part of the city’s four-year budget.

The pools are being shuttered in an effort to modernize the city’s aquatic facilities, shifting from maintaining smaller pools to larger aquatic centres. Plus, the city said many were at the end of their lifespans, had low attendance and issues attracting lifeguards.

In an effort to save it from the wrecking ball, community members raised tens of thousands of dollars to pay for Happyland’s operating costs. A city committee ultimately voted down their proposal, saying it wouldn’t cover the bulk of its costs.

South St. Boniface Residents Association President Teresa Cwik said the community is losing a valuable, beloved asset.

“We’re heartbroken, saddened,” she said.

“This was a perfectly good pool. There’s nothing wrong with it. We offered to pay for the operating costs, but the city turned us down.”

Still, Cwik plans to keep demonstrating during the demolition and during the next civic election.

- With files from CTV’s Danton Unger