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Jan 02, 2026

Updated Timeline of Events for the Mount Pleasant Pool Replacement

This a concise history of our struggle in our efforts to replace the demolished Mount Pleasant Park Outdoor Pool and the record of incredible support that our community has generously given…

Mount Pleasant Community Centre Association
History of Community and Park Board Support for Mount Pleasant Outdoor Pool

1. In 2001 Park Board commissioned an aquatic needs study, the Aquatic Services Review. The study showed strong support for replacing Mount Pleasant Pool specifically, and for increasing the capacity of aquatics facilities in general. The outcome of the 2001 survey indicated that the majority of respondents favoured replacing outdoor pools as they wear out, were strongly opposed to closing the outdoor pools, felt that the city should invest in outdoor swimming pools, and there was strong agreement that everyone benefits from public swimming and that pools are essential to the quality of life in Vancouver.
https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2002/020311/aquaticsc.pdf

Despite this outcome, the report recommended closing outdoor pools as they wear out and not replacing them.
https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2001/011105/aquatic_app.pdf
A great deal has transpired since this direction was imposed by Staff and the Pool Architectural firm that was contracted to conduct the study in 2001.

2. March 2002 Park Board Staff recommends permanent closure of Mount Pleasant Outdoor Pool when it wears out or when the Mount Pleasant Community Centre (MPCC) is relocated to #1 Kingsway, contrary to public support for replacing the pool.
https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2002/020311/aquatics1.pdf

3. In summer 2003 the ad hoc ‘Save Mount Pleasant Pool’ Committee (Pool Committee) was formed and petitions were circulated to save the Mount Pleasant Outdoor Pool (MP Pool).

4. October 7, 2003, around 30 Pool Committee members and interested citizens present 1,626 petition signatures to the Planning and Environment Committee of Park Board (PB) and register to speak in favour of MP Pool. Staff is directed to undertake a design and budget review of park development options for Mount Pleasant Community Park after the MPCC moves to #1 Kingsway.
https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2003/pe031104/mom_oct7_03.pdf

5. PB Staff formed a volunteer Planning Review Group made up of community volunteers. Over a period of several months, the group developed three options for the redevelopment of Mount Pleasant Community Park that were presented to the public at an Open House in February 2005.
https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2005/pe050215/mom_feb15_05_pe.pdf

6. February 2005: Feedback received at the Open House indicated overwhelming support (over 80%) for replacing the outdoor pool (Option #3).

7. Park Board Staff reported to the PB on the support for a replacement pool on May 3, 2005. Note discussion comment: because the potential for pool breakdown is a significant risk, the rebuilding of Mount Pleasant Pool needs to be prioritized due to the urgency of the project. It was noted that other worthwhile projects do not face the same risk if they are not funded in the next capital plan.
https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2005/pe050503/mom_pe_may3_05.pdf

8. May 2005 three Public Information Meetings were held regarding the 2006-2008 COV Draft Capital Plan. 23% of all speaker feedback received at these meetings was in support of MP Pool, favouring Option #3 to replace the MP Pool. 46% of all written comments in the city wide Public Information Process are about rebuilding MP Pool.

9. June 23, 2005 report by PB staff indicating that the majority of responses from the CITY WIDE Capital Plan Consultation were in support of the Olympic Legacy practice rink, the replacement of Mount Pleasant Outdoor Pool, and the VanDusen Garden Building.
https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2005/050627/capital_plan_draft_allocation.pdf

10. June 2005 Park Board Draft Capital Plan allocated $4 million for the redevelopment of MP Park to include a replacement pool based on high demand in city wide Capital Plan Feedback.
https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2005/050627/a2_capital_plan_draft_allocation.pdf

11. September 2005 the final Capital Plan reduced the funding for Mount Pleasant Community Park to $1 million for the redevelopment of the park, and MP Pool was not funded.
https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2005/050627/capital_plan_draft_allocation.pdf

12. September 13, 2005 several hundred Mount Pleasant residents parade from MP Pool to City Hall and speak to the Special Council Meeting on the Draft Capital Plan, to support reinstating the funding that was cut.
https://council.vancouver.ca/20050913/documents/scmin_000.pdf

13. September 19, 2005 PB unanimously passes a motion in support of retaining an outdoor pool in Mount Pleasant Community Park, and in favour of redeveloping two outdoor neighbourhood pools, overriding the recommendations of the 2001 Aquatic Services Review.
https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2005/051003/mom_sept19_05.pdf

14. September 20, 2005, PB General Manager delivers a memo to City Council at the Capital Plan hearing to inform Council of the PB motion of September 19 to redevelop the neighbourhood pools.
https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2002/020311/aquaticsc.pdf

15. The following additional motion is put forward to Council and Carried: THAT: Council encourage the Park Board to review options for keeping the Mount Pleasant outdoor pool open at least until completion of the proposed replacement for Percy Norman Pool at the new Hillcrest Centre and request the Board to report back on the additional costs that would be necessary in the Operating Budget.
Report Reference 1. G https://council.vancouver.ca/20050920/documents/regmin_000.pdf

16. October 20, 2005 PB Aquatic Services Renewal Plan Update to approve a process to re-evaluate the recommendations of the Aquatic Services Review with respect to the retention of MP Pool and to identify possible external funding sources. Discussion point #2 on page 4 directs staff to work with the community to identify external sources of funding, and discussion point #3 on page 4 directs staff to revise the recommendations of the Aquatic Services Review.
https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2005/051031/aquatic_services_renewal_plan_update.pdf

17. October 31, 2005 PB motions carried to clarify the intention to rebuild MP Pool, for the community to immediately begin fundraising, and to clarify that money would not be available until the 2009-2011 Capital Plan at the earliest. Staff is directed to meet with the community by January 2006 and to report back to the board on funding opportunities by March 2007.
https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2005/051205/mom_oct31_05.pdf

18. January 2006 the Pool Committee and MPCCA submit a detailed list of potential funding sources for rebuilding MP Pool. All requests to meet with staff on funding opportunities are denied.

19. March 20, 2007 Staff makes a recommendation to PB Planning and Environment Committee to demolish MP Pool and build a water spray park. Many community stakeholders attended the meeting in support of rebuilding MP Pool as per 2005 motions. A PB committee member suggested that another public consultation should take place to ascertain what type of facility is needed.

20. February 2008 PB Draft 2009-2011 Capital Plan includes an additional $750,000 (additional to the
$1m from the 2006-2006 Capital Plan) for the Mount Pleasant Community Park renewal. Staff suggests that this may be used for a water spray park.

21. September 2008. After the community outright rejected the $750K allocation for a water spray park, $0 was allocated to Mount Pleasant Community Park in the 2009-2011 Capital Plan.

22. June 1, 2009 a Park Board meeting was held at MPCC and drew a large crowd of advocates for the MP Pool project. Over 6,000 petition signatures in support of a replacement pool are presented to Park Board.

23. Extensive public consultation is conducted by Mustel Group over the future of Mount Pleasant Community Park August 2009 through December, 2009. An overwhelming majority (such that Mustel has never seen before) support the replacement of MP Pool (Option #2).

24. December 10, 2009 Mustel Group presentation to PB Planning and Environment Committee with staff recommendation to develop Mount Pleasant Community Park with an outdoor swimming pool. https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2009/plan091210/MinutesPEDec10.pdf

25. December 14, 2009 Staff recommends a plan for Mount Pleasant Community Park that allows for the future development of an outdoor pool when funds become available.
https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2009/091214/index.htm

26. December 14, 2009 the staff recommendation from public consultation to develop a plan for Mount Pleasant Community Park that allows for the future development of an outdoor pool when funds become available is moved and adopted into policy.
https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2010/100118/Minutes09Dec14.pdf

27. Vancouver Society for Promotion of Outdoor Pools is registered as Society under the BC Societies Act to complement and expand upon work undertaken by the Mount Pleasant Community Centre Association.

28. June 21, 2010 MP Park Open House exploring options for Mount Pleasant Community Park renewal.

29. September 22, 2010 Public Open House soliciting further input on Mount Pleasant Community Park renewal features.

30. 83% of participants supported the inclusion of a new outdoor pool in Mount Pleasant Community Park over any other park feature.

31. October 20, 2010 GM Memo Staff recommendation to approve the proposed Mount Pleasant Community Park upgrade as described in Appendix A. https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2010/101101/MountPleasantParkUpgrade.pdf

32. November 1, 2010 PB unanimously approves the proposed Mount Pleasant Community Park upgrade that includes a dedicated site for a ‘Future Pool’ when funds become available. https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2010/101101/MountPleasantParkUpgrade.pdf

33. 19 September 2011 MP Pool not funded in the 2012-2014 Capital Plan.
https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2011/111017/2011MinutesSept19.pdf

34. In November, 2012 the Mount Pleasant Pool Committee submitted 307 handwritten letters of support that were collected during two community events. These letters were written by various children, parents, families, seniors, lifeguards, teachers, health care practitioners, and professional athletes of all ages and levels of physical ability who share the value of outdoor summer recreation. The letters represent a very small percentage of Vancouver residents who support this project.

35. MPCCA Submission for funding the swimming pool in the 2015-2018 Capital Plan Capital Plan Submission 2015-2018.pdf Mount Pleasant Pool is not funded again.

36. May 30, 2016. PARK BOARD MOTION EXPEDITING OUTDOOR POOLS THAT the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation direct staff to explore quick start strategies, including the reallocation of existing capital funding, to expedite the construction of new outdoor pools in the City of Vancouver.
https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2016/20160530/MOTIONDECISION-ExpeditingNewOutdoorPools-20 160530.pdf

37. Submission made for funding in Previous Capital Plan (2019-2022). Appendix E. Page 3. Mount Pleasant Pool considered within the draft Capital Plan. Not funded again PENDING OUTCOME OF VANSPLASH.
https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2018/20180719/REPORT-ParkBoard2019-2022CapitalPlan-APPENDIXEngagementResults-20180719.pdf

38. Vansplash. Vancouver’s most extensive aquatic review to date, a three year process, concluded with the CLEAR DIRECTION TO REPLACE MOUNT PLEASANT SWIMMING POOL PER THE 2010 PARK REDEVELOPMENT DESIGN.
https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2019/20191028/DECISION-VanSplash-VancouverAquat
icsStrategyRe portBack-20191028.pdf

39. Mount Pleasant Pool, one of the most publicized features of VanSplash and one with a single clear directive, was omitted from the Park Board press release after VanSplash was ceremoniously adopted.

40. Mount Pleasant Pool not funded again in 2023-2026 Draft Capital Plan.

41. April 26, 2022, Council motion passes unanimously THAT Council direct staff to report back to Council prior to the final capital plan with recommendations to fully fund and deliver the replacement of the outdoor pool in Mount Pleasant Community Park. The report that came back to Council failed to report back with recommendations TO FULLY FUND AND DELIVER, but instead came back with recommendations AGAINST FUNDING.
https://council.vancouver.ca/20220426/documents/regu20220426min.pdf

42. Mount Pleasant Outdoor Pool was not funded again in Final Capital Plan that went to Park Board for decision on June 27, 2022
https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2022/20220627/REPORT-2023-2026CapitaPlan-ParksRec-20220627.pdf

43. Motion subsequently passed at June 27 Park Board meeting to: Reallocate capital funds to Mount Pleasant Outdoor Pool from the 2023-26 Capital Plan, as follows:
https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2022/20220627/DECISION-2023-2026CapitalPlan-ParksRecreation-20220627.pdf
and to identify additional sources of funding to build the pool by 2026. (D. THAT the Vancouver Park Board direct staff to explore reallocating $11.5 million of funds in the proposed 2023-2026 Capital Plan to facilitate the planning, design and building of the Mount Pleasant Pool: $5.5 million from converting parkland to healthy habitat; and $6 million from other sources of funding to be determined by staff.) Note that no such action was undertaken by Staff as directed, but instead a letter was sent to the Pool Committee from Park Board Capital Plan Staff that no funds would be reallocated to Mount Pleasant Pool.

44. The Pool Committee has submitted Capital Plan applications for each successive Capital Plan since 2005. In addition, the Committee applied for funding through Park Board for the Federal Infrastructure Program. Park Board rejected the application and did not submit it, despite suggestions from Ottawa that our application would be very worthy of consideration. Other funding sources that the Pool Committee has brought to the attention of Park Board over the years include this non exhaustive list:
Infrastructure Canada New Building Canada Plan

BC Gas Tax Fund Agreement Funding: up to a portion of British Columbia allocation of
$1,317,040.00. Eligible investment categories under this fund include sport and recreation
Greenest City Community Grant Western Diversification Program
$49.2m Growing Communities fund
After being advised by Park Board that the MPCCA should build some seed money toward the project, the Association has succeeded in raising over $113,000 toward the project.

45. The MPCCA Pool Committee has been advocating for the use of improved efficiency through green technologies since the very beginning of this campaign. Yet, Park Board continues to reference the cost of operating an outdoor pool built in the 1960’s as rationale for not building the modern pool that could be a showcase for green technologies in Vancouver.

46. The Pool Committee has held discussions with the contractor who installed the solar panels at Templeton indoor pool and Second Beach outdoor pool who said that outdoor pools are like large batteries that produce energy. Efficient boilers, pool covers, etc are additional means of reducing operating costs and extending the pool season.

Comparing Canadian City Populations, Numbers of Outdoor Pools & People per Pool

City	Province	Population	Num Full Size Outdoor Pools	People Per Pool
Port Coquitlam *	BC	63,297	4	15,824 people per pool
Niagara Falls *	ON	98,439	5	19,688 people per pool
Montreal	PQ	1,780,000	63	28,253 people per pool
Medicine Hat	AB	63,278	2	31,639 people per pool
St Catherine’s	ON	140,370	3	46,790 people per pool
Toronto	ON	2,832,718	58	48,840 people per pool
Regina	SK	253,185	5	50,637 people per pool
Burnaby	BC	274,425	4	68,606 people per pool
Surrey *	BC	600,911	8	75,113 people per pool
Saskatoon	SK	347,000	4	86,750 people per pool
Winnipeg	MB	849,000	8	106,125 people per pool
Ottawa	ON	1,070,889	9	118,987 people per pool
Halifax	NS	431,416	3	145,472 people per pool
Calgary	AB	1,665,000	8	208,125 people per pool
Edmonton	AB	1,060,667	5	212,133 people per pool
Vancouver (2024)	BC	756,000	3	252,000 people per pool
Vancouver (1984)	BC	426,000	8	53,250 people per pool

* Denotes free (no fee) swimming at these pools.

Vancouver has the lowest ratio of outdoor pools per person in Canada. There are 5 times as many people per pool than in 1984, as our aging infrastructure has not been renewed.

Wescana Outdoor Swimming Pool Complex Regina completed in 2023 for $16.4 million, .
https://www.regina.ca/parks-recreation-culture/recreation-facilities/outdoor-swimming-pools-spray-pads/wascana-pool/

The Wascana Pool Renewal Project cost $16.4 million. The project received $12 million in funding from the Government of Saskatchewan through the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program (MEEP). The City covered the remainder of the cost.

Water conservation features include a regenerative pool water filtration system, low consumption fixtures, and recirculating spray pad.

Energy conservation and emission reduction features include a high-efficient water heating plant, solar panels, LED lighting and variable speed pool pumps.

Approximately 30% of the energy for the facility comes from the solar panels. We used as much real estate as possible and available on the site for this feature.

Mundy Park Pool in Coquitlam, BC opened on June 1st, 2025 at a cost of $36 million which includes a host of amenities above and beyond what the renewal of a 25 meter pool in Mount Pleasant Park would cost, and has a much larger indoor and outdoor footprint. It was in part funded by the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program’s (ICIP) Community, Culture, and Recreation Infrastructure Stream.

The Aldergrove Outdoor Pool Complex was completed in 2018 with $30 million in federal grants. This outdoor pool complex also includes far more features than a simple 25 meter swimming pool in Mount Pleasant Park with year round washroom access.

The above diagram depicts the Park Board concept plan that was approved in 2010. Subsequently the community garden was moved to the north east corner of the park.

Mount Pleasant Pool is not an option in VanSplash to be weighed against other projects. It is a singular and clear resolution (A2) in the Aquatic Strategy and was adopted unanimously with the understanding that this project has been delayed for too long already. The Mount Pleasant Pool replacement should not have to be debated yet again but should be funded and built immediately. We continue to reinvest in our waterfront pools that are at high risk of critical damage from storms, but fail to follow the Aquatic Strategy and public demand for equitable access to city wide outdoor pools in the urban core and off of the waterfront in locations that work synergistically with our other city strategies such as Greenest City, VanPlay, Climate Emergency Action Plan, etc.

The history demonstrates the long standing demand for this amenity and the ongoing frustration of promises made through democratically established policies.