Community says farewell to Scona Pool: ‘We knew the time was coming’

After 65 years of operations, the City of Edmonton is draining the Scona Pool and closing it permanently on Monday.

As a farewell, the community group Friends of Scona Rec invited members to go for one last dip in the pool, and share some memories.

“Scona Pool has been a big part of the community since its opening in 1957,” said Elaine Solez of Friends of Scona Rec. “This event gives people the opportunity to enjoy the pool one last time, share memories and say goodbye.”

Edmonton city council voted to close the pool in August due to its aging condition, and the growing costs needed to repair it.

Crumbling facade of the Scona Pool building on Aug. 25, 2022. (Credit: CityNews/Darcy Ropchan)

“This pool could have been closed in 2010, but the community members came together, they filled city hall with people, they got another good 12 years out of this pool and that’s more than a lot of people expected,” said Coun. Michael Janz.

”And we wouldn’t be here without community advocacy.”

The city has suggested three alternative pools for the community and swim groups to use: the Kinsmen Sports Centre, Bonnie Doon Leisure Centre and Confederation Leisure Centre.

Kirby Feng, a volunteer coach with the Scona swim team, says the city helped them find an alternate practice space at the Kinsmen Sports Centre.

Sad to see the pool close, Feng says he understands why the city decided to stop investing in the Scona Pool.

“We knew the time was coming, if we spend all of this money to keep this pool around, then we might not have enough money to build the other pool,” he said.

Now that Scona Pool is closing, there is a push for a replacement. Funding for the Rollie Mile Leisure Centre will be debated in the 2023-26 budget.

But Feng wishes he saw action sooner.

“Do better, do better,” he said. “Thirteen years ago we already knew we needed a pool. Please do better and get us a new pool.”

Solez is staying optimistic and is hoping to see the city take the next steps to build the new rec centre.

“We are working really hard to get a new rec centre built on this park,” she said. “We were hoping it would already be available before Scona Pool closed but that timing didn’t work out for us.”