City opening Stan Siwik Pool, ATB Centre twin ice rinks
Special protocols will be followed
The City will be opening Stan Siwik Pool and the ATB Centre’s twin rinks this weekend, but those wishing to use these facilities must book time in advance and adhere to new usage restrictions to ensure the facilities remain in compliance with public health orders. Henderson Pool will follow suit on July 19.
Residents who wish to use the pools for exercise or general swimming must book online at
aquatics.lethbridge.ca at least an hour in advance of when they wish to come. Those without the internet can call the pools directly to book. As no change rooms will be open, visitors are asked to come prepared to enter and leave the facility in their swimming clothes.
Once inside, visitors will be given a bin for personal items and be designated to a specific zone of the pool where they must enter and exit the pool.
“We just ask everyone respects the personal space of others and the social distancing measures put out by Alberta Health Services,“says Sunni Elle, assistant general manager for Recreation Excellence with the City of Lethbridge.
Visitors to Stan Siwik Pool have the option of booking 60-minute, 90-minute or 120-minute time slots, after which they must leave the pool. Henderson Pool is restricted to 90-minute slots only.
In addition to no dressing room access, there will also be no access to concessions this year at Henderson Pool.
If a person wishes to book multiple slots at either pool, they must pay a new access fee for each booking.
Recreation Services manager for the City of Lethbridge Jason Freund says the bleach content of the pools, capable of killing the coronavirus in water, makes them extremely safe to swim in as long as proper physical distancing is observed by everyone in attendance.
He says staff members will also be “sticklers” for the rules to ensure they are being followed to the letter by everyone who comes out to use pool facilities, but will also be making adjustments where necessary to ensure visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience at the pool this summer.
“Unfortunately people will be finding we are not going to be as flexible as we normally are,” he states. “This time we are following guidelines, and if we don’t follow those guidelines the authoritiesthat-be can shut our facilities down.”
Freund says only the two Cityrun
swimming facilities will be open for the present, and they will evaluate how things are working before opening more pools potentially in August. Swimming lessons will also start on July 27, he adds, but younger children who have difficulty swimming must undertake those lessons with their parents in the water with them as instructors will be prohibited from making physical contact with their pupils until further notice.
Westminster Pool, which is operated by the Westminster Community Association, will also be open as of July 18. Preregistration will not be required, but there will be limits on the number of people allowed in at any given time. Change rooms will also be closed to the public there.
As for the ATB Centre’s rinks, they will be available for group booking as of this weekend, but no public skating will be offered. Those wishing to book a time can do so by calling 403-320-6543. Similar public health restrictions will be in place as seen in pools, with change rooms closed to users and no spectators allowed in the stands to watch the games.
Freund confirms Nicholas Sheran Ice Centre will also likely be opened by Aug. 8, but says he does not have a timeline for when other arenas may potentially open.
For more details on city facilities access and restrictions visit
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