Provincial rules force Beaconsfield to remove diving boards
Swimmers at some of Beaconsfield’s outdoor community pools will have to go without diving boards until the city decides to build new pools that would meet provincewide standards, Mayor Georges Bourelle says.
New pools would cost an estimated $3 million each, he said.
Bourelle said that Windemere, Heights and Beaurepaire pools are considered to be too shallow for diving, which has forced the closure of diving boards. An audit was carried out last summer under the supervision of the Quebec Lifesaving Society, the province’s authority on aquatic safety.
In an interview last fall, Bourelle said that while Beaconsfield pools haven’t seen any accidents in the 50 years since the diving boards were installed, the action the city is taking is preventive, to ensure it would not be liable if something were to happen.
Pools with diving boards built before 1977, such as Beaconsfield’s, must have a minimum depth of three metres. Those installed after 2013 must be at least 3.4 metres deep at their lowest point.
Matt Virgini, president of Beaurepaire pool, explained that their diving team has been travelling between pools in Baie-d’Urfé and Pointe-Claire, since they can’t practice on their own turf.
Bourelle stressed on Monday smaller corrections have been made so all activities, including diving from pool ledges during swim competitions, can continue. Patrice Boileau, general director of the city, said this includes repainting the bottom of the pools, making sure the depth of the water is clearly marked, and redirecting jets.
The city considered alternatives to rebuilding, such as repositioning the boards or excavating the pool basins, but he said the government prohibits modifications to existing pools.
“You cannot dig up the pools or increase the size of the pool, on the basis of the regulations,” he said. In addition, he said replacing related equipment, such as piping, would drive up the cost, essentially forcing the creation of new pools, which is something they aren’t considering right now.
“We’re not going to be building new pools at this time,” Bourelle said. “We simply don’t have that in our budget.” He said it could be considered in a future budget.
Heights pool president Beth Acton said in an email that their members miss the diving boards, but said the board of directors is hopeful a solution can be found.
Virgini said Beaurepaire’s board feels the same. “We remain hopeful that another solution will be found and we’re working toward it, but it’s going to require city support.”