THUNDER BAY - There’s no better way to beat the summer heat than a nice dip in a pool. But swimmers in the city are lamenting just one more sign that the summer is soon coming to an end.
Public pools throughout the city held their last public swimming sessions on Sunday. Facilitators at the Art Widnall Pool said that this season has been a big success.
Sean Bridge, facility operator at Art Widnall Pool said there was an increase in patrons by 13 per cent.
“I think the main reason we did see a little bit of an increase over last summer is because of the nice weather we’ve had,” Bridge said. “I also like to think that a lot of the patrons we were talking to this summer said we’ve been doing an awesome job. So more word of mouth than usual.”
Bridge said that a particularly busy day can see more than 500 people come out to take in a free swim.
A particular draw for kids and parents alike are the Twoonie Lessons, 45 minute swimming lessons for swimmers of all skill levels.
“Both kids and parents both love the Twoonie Lessons,” Bridge said. “We had some new instructors this year and they all really bonded with the students.”
Bridge added that regular swimming lessons during the school year can be fairly expensive, so offering such an important skill for less than the cost of a cup of coffee is a win-win situation for everyone.
“It gives the kids the basics of what they need to learn how to start swimming,” he said.
But an afternoon out at the pool is about more than just learning to swim. Not only is a great way to cool off on warm summer days, but it’s also a chance to just get out and have fun.
For nine-year-old Hailey Tallant, who said she came to the Heath Street pool every day this summer, it’s about getting together with friends.
“I like to see all the lifeguards and all my friends,” she said. “I love swimming. When it’s hot, you can just dive in.”
Six-year-old Michael Tesluk said that the best thing about the pool is that he can do any swimming he wants, anytime.
And while Michael and Hailey are both sad that it was the last day for the pool, Michael is staying optimistic.
“Next summer we can still go here,” he said. “I’m excited for next summer.”
Bridge said that that the public pools are a great addition to the community and provide a place for kids to burn off a lot of energy in a safe and supervised area.
“We had a really successful summer,” he said. “There were no incidents, everything ran so smooth, I couldn’t have asked for a better summer. All the staff did an awesome job and it was great to see all the people to come out.”
