City hopeful flooded Hemingway pool will reopen later this autumn

The bell has tolled for the Peter Hemingway Aquatic Centre. With a plot twist that feels like it’s straight out of a Kafka novel, the pool has been closed since July because things got too wet.

The pool, located at Coronation Park, is one of the most architecturally striking buildings in the city. The asymmetrical building has curved walls of glass that join together in hard angles. From the outside, it doesn’t look like a place to go for a swim; it looks like the headquarters of a Bond villain.

But the building, named for the architect who designed it, has been closed since June. That’s because of the extensive rains in the early summer that flooded the area. Those same floods also forced the closure of the neighbouring Telus World of Science.

“The basement, ceiling, electrical systems, pool pumps and other mechanical systems were significantly compromised as a result of these flooding events,” wrote city spokesperson Christina Chu in an email to Postmedia.

The closure occurred just months after a massive renovation project was completed. The pool reopened in January 2026 after an extensive refurbishment “to upgrade its more than 50-year-old mechanical, structural and electrical systems, building exterior and roof.” The renovated aquatic centre features the city’s first cold plunge pool and is now integrated with the Coronation Park Recreation Centre.

Chu wrote that the city is working with Epcor to determine how to make sure flood damage like this doesn’t happen again.

“Currently, administration is working collaboratively and with urgency with the operators to restart operations at the Peter Hemingway Aquatic Centre,” Chu wrote. “While this work is occurring, we are also conducting a comprehensive analysis of the local drainage system in collaboration with Epcor, and are using lessons learned from recent flooding events to identify potential vulnerabilities within the drainage network.

“The analysis may provide further recommendation to ensure stronger resilience against similar rainfall events in the future.  The work has led to a broader review of the underground infrastructure in the area to assess its condition and drainage capacity.”

Chu wrote that the majority of the costs for the Hemingway repair will be handled through insurance.

And when will the sun rise again for the pool? The city is hopeful that it’s sooner rather than later, but there are still many steps to complete and certifications that will need signatures.

“While this broader analysis advances, progress on the facility itself continues,” Chu wrote. “The facility’s primary electrical systems have been modified to reduce the risk of recurrence and the facility recently was reenergized. Recommissioning efforts remain projected for completion for this fall 2026. However, essential utility milestones and final inspections must occur before a reopening date can be confirmed publicly.”

The pool opened in 1970, and was immediately hailed as a wonder of modern architecture. In 2026, the city declared it a Municipal Historic Resource. The design of the pool earned Hemingway the Massey Medal for architecture.

The Peter Hemingway Aquatic Centre isn’t the only indoor pool that’s closed in the city. Hardisty Fitness and Leisure Centre closed last week and isn’t expected to reopen until June 2027. This is a scheduled maintenance that will see the pool’s chlorination system changed, reconstruction of the sauna and locker-room refurbishments.

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