Alex Kurial
Local Journalism Initiative

Pools may be opening across the province, but in Petrolia the wait will continue till the final stage of reopening.

“We have to wait until the Ontario government gives us a date for Phase 3 reopen,” says YMCA general manager Tracey Taylor. She explained that facilities like the Y are not eligible for reopening until that final stage, so opening just the pool would not be feasible.

Taylor says that once the pool does reopen the hardest part of keeping people safe won’t be in the water itself. “It really isn’t an issue with the actual physical swimming pool. It’s the change rooms. It’s having people change in close quarters with each other, that’s the issue with the pool.” 

“There are some challenges with the swimming pool as well, with keeping people six feet apart and social distancing and all that kind of stuff,” Taylor says. Preparations are currently underway at the Y for the eventual reopening. Taylor says after the announcement for Phase 3, the facility should be able to open in about a week.

The water is flowing again in Plympton-Wyoming though, at least at the splash pad. Pool-goers will not have to wait long either for their chance to take a dip.

Chief Administrative Officer Carolyn Tripp says that they are hoping to re-open the pool for Canada Day, with a number of restrictions to enforce physical distancing and cleanliness. Classes are also targeted for mid-July, but will look much different than normal.

Swimming classes will be half the size of regular classes and will require parent participation for younger kids, as instructors cannot provide physical instruction to the students.