While measures are in place to control the risks of the transmission of COVID-19, participants should be aware that there are still risks with participating in a public swim, lane swim or swimming lesson.
Reservations are now available for drop-in public and lane swims.
The City has taken a hub model to service resumption. You can reserve a swim spot online by selecting from the following facilities and clicking on the reservation button at the bottom of the schedule tab:
The following pools are currently closed:
Outdoor pools are now open. You can reserve a one-hour swim spot online. Select one of the following facilities. Proceed by clicking on the reservation button at the bottom of the schedule tab.
Splash pads are now open. Splash pads hours are from 8 am to 9 pm daily.
The following splash pads are closed for repairs:
For more information please email seasonalrecreation@ottawa.ca.
This interactive map shows you the locations of Ottawa’s splash pads. Splash pads marked in light blue are accessible.
The 53 wading pools across the city have reopened. Wading pool attendants will be present at the pool to provide safety supervision.
This summer admission numbers are reduced to allow for physical distancing. Fewer swimmers can be in the pool at the same time. When more than the allowable number of swimmers are present, a 30-minute timeslot will be assigned by the pool attendant on a first come basis. The attendant will also screen swimmers for COVID-19 symptoms before allowing entry to the pool
If there is space available at the end of your 30-minute swim, you may be assigned another 30 minutes.
There is no cost to swim at a City of Ottawa wading pool.
Reservations can be made for 30-minute sessions on site at each wading pool location. Swimmers are only required to exit the pool following their 30-minute session, if the subsequent session is fully booked.
This interactive map shows you the locations of Ottawa's wading pools, along with their dates and hours of operation. Wading pools marked in light blue are accessible.
The City’s beaches at Mooney’s Bay, Westboro, Britannia and Petrie Island are now open for supervised swimming from noon to 7 pm until August 29.
Ottawa Public Health will conduct regular water quality testing. Check Beach Water Quality Results - Ottawa Public Health for the latest water-quality results and no swimming advisories.
To further help you and your family stay safe and healthy, the City has worked with Ottawa Public Health to implement COVID-prevention measures, including:
Beach accessible wheelchairs will be available on a first come first serve basis.
Also, keep our beaches and parks clean by not littering. Dispose of your waste in bins or bring it home to dispose in your green bin or your recycling and garbage bins.
Parking lots for the beaches will be open. There is a fee for parking at Mooney’s Bay and Petrie Island. Also, check octranspo.com to help plan your transit route to the parks and beaches.
The washrooms at Mooney’s Bay, Petrie and Britannia, are open for the season.
Put your toes in the sand or get involved in some water fun at one of the City’s public beaches.
Accessible wheelchairs available at Mooney’s Bay Beach, Westboro Beach, Britannia Beach and Petrie Island Beach. Available daily between noon to 6:30 pm from June 19 to August 29, 2021
Beach accessible wheelchairs - available to rent at no cost
For availability, please contact:
Users are required to provide own attendant to push chair and assist with transfer in and out of chair. There is no lift on site.
To book an event at the beach, contact Centralized Allocations:
To bring your group to swim at the beach, contact Beach Operations:
A wonderful sandy beach with spectacular views across the Ottawa River. Great for picnics, a stroll, a swim, a game of volleyball or to watch the boats go by.
A popular summer destination for swimmers, rowers and special events, including Dragon Boat Races and HOPE Volleyball.
Please note that, until further notice, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Mooney’s Bay Park closes at 9 pm.
This beach is located on National Capital Commission property at Kitchissippi Lookout on the Ottawa River.
Have fun at the beaches and play safe by following water safety guidelines.
For additional information please visit the City of Ottawa’s Safety and supervisory standards in City pools and beaches.
Beach water quality is tested daily for the presence of E coli bacteria. Learn more from Ottawa Public Health.
The COVID-19 situation remains fluid and we may need to adapt our programming or pause operations at certain sites throughout the winter and into the spring, should the nature of the pandemic shift once again.
View schedules and links to reserve your spot.
View swimming fees.
Summer swimming lessons and certifications registration have reopened in keeping with Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen regulations.
Browse the eGuides for current descriptions, start dates and registration information. For a full listing of swim lessons in English and French go to JoinOttawa.
How to register
You can also register in person by visiting a recreation facility or client service centre.
Height requirement: 45 inches (115 cm)
Facility's swim test: Must be able to independently recover from floating on their front and back, and be able to cross the deepest part of the pool unassisted.
| Age | Admission requirements | Guardian:child ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Five years and under |
Parent/guardian 14 years or older must be within arms reach at all times |
1:4 |
| Six to nine years, height under 115 cm and cannot pass facility's swim test |
Parent/guardian 14 years or older must be within arms reach at all times |
1:4 |
| Six to nine years, height at least 115 cm or passes facility's swim test | Actively supervised by parent or guardian 14 years or older | N/A |
| 10 years and older | No supervision, facility swim test or minimum height required | N/A |
Supervisory standards for camps at wading pools have been adjusted as a 2 meter distance must be maintained between counsellor and camper and therefore ‘within arms reach’ can not be met.
| Age | Admission requirements | Staff:child ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Five years and under | Child is unable to enter the pool because a camp counsellor must stay within arms reach, but are unable to, due to social distancing measures | n/a |
| Six to nine years, height under 115 cm and cannot pass facility's swim test | Child is unable to enter the pool because a camp counsellor must stay within arms reach, but are unable to, due to social distancing measures | n/a |
| Six to nine years, height at least 115 cm or passes facility's swim test | Always accompanied by staff | 1:10 |
| 10 years and older, height at least 115 cm or passes facility's swim test | Always accompanied by staff | 1:15 |
Each ratio above indicates the maximum number of children that one responsible person 14 years or older can supervise. They may not have any additional children under their care unless the other children are at least six years old and able to pass the facility's swim test or meet the height requirement.
There are safety standards so that everyone can enjoy the City’s swimming pools and beaches.
If you are unsure of how these requirements apply to you, please contact the pool before your visit.
To ensure adequate supervision and to identify people at greater risk, all swimmers need to wear a City-issued coloured wristband to get in the pool.
Non-swimmers and those who cannot pass the facility's swim test must remain in shallow water.
Each ratio below indicates the maximum number of children that one responsible person 14 years or older can supervise. The parent or guardian must be in proper bathing attire, in the water, actively participating and within arm’s reach at all times.
| Age | Requirements | Guardian:child ratio | Wristband |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 years and under | Accompanied by parent/guardian 14 years or older who must be actively participating and within arms reach at all times | 1:2 | Orange |
| 6 to 7 | Accompanied by parent/guardian 14 years or older who must be actively participating and within arms reach at all times |
1:4 or 1:6 if wearing life jackets |
Orange |
| 8 to 10, did not pass facility's swim test | Always accompanied by parent/guardian 14 years or older who must be actively participating and within arms reach at all times | 1:4 or 1:8 if wearing life jackets | Orange |
| 8 to 10, passed facility's swim test | No guardian supervision required | N/A | Green |
| Age | Requirements | Guardian:child ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 5 years and under | Accompanied by parent/guardian 14 years or older who must be actively participating and within arms reach at all times | 1:2 |
| 6 to 7 years | Accompanied by parent/guardian 14 years or older who must be actively participating and within arms reach at all times |
1:4 or 1:6 if wearing life jackets/PFDs |
| 8 to 10 years | Accompanied by parent/guardian 14 years or older who must be actively participating and within arms reach at all times | 1:4 or 1:8 if wearing life jackets/PFDs |
| 11 to 13 years | Accompanied by parent/guardian 14 years or older | 1:15 |
High-risk people must be in a ratio of 1:1. High-risk people have a condition or illness that may put them at risk in a pool, such as frequent seizures or fainting conditions. This includes people who are unable to control their behaviour or impulses and require direct supervision. The supervisory ratios for groups of high-risk people will be determined by pool staff based on the specific needs of the people and their associated risks. We recommend you call the pool before you visit.
Bearbrook Outdoor Pool, Beaverbrook Outdoor Pool, Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex-Orléans, Brewer Pool, Canterbury Pool, Corkstown Outdoor Pool, Crestview Outdoor Pool, Deborah Anne Kirwan Pool, Entrance Outdoor Pool, François Dupuis Recreation Centre, General Burns Outdoor Pool, Genest Outdoor Pool, Glen Cairn Outdoor Pool, Katimavik Outdoor Pool, Lowertown Pool, Pinecrest Recreation Centre, Plant Recreation Centre, Sawmill Creek Pool
CARDELREC Recreation Complex Goulbourn, Minto Recreation Complex-Barrhaven, Nepean Sportsplex, Richcraft Recreation Complex-Kanata, Splash Wave Pool
Kanata Leisure Centre and Wave Pool, Ray Friel Recreation Complex, Splash Wave Pool
A swim membership gives you access to scheduled public swim sessions (excluding wave swims) at all City pools. A combined swim and aquafitness membership gives you access to a variety of fitness classes in different depths of water.
Membership fees include HST.
| 1 month | 3 months | 6 months | 1 year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seniors, students, youth, children | $25.50 | $50.50 | $92.25 | $166.75 |
| Adult | $55.25 | $109.50 | $200.25 | $362.25 |
| Household | $106.75 | $212.50 | $388.75 | $670.50 |
| 1 month | 3 months | 6 months | 1 year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seniors, students, youth, children | $51.50 | $116.50 | $178.50 | $293.25 |
| Adult | $70.25 | $159.75 | $256 | $398.25 |
| Household | $129.75 | $257.75 | $446.75 | $816 |
| 1 month | 3 months | 6 months | 1 year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seniors, students, youth | $57.25 | $113 | $206.50 | $374 |
| Adults | $70.75 | $140.75 | $256.75 | $466 |
| Household | $114 | $252.50 | $461.50 | $838 |
| 1 month | 3 months | 6 months | 1 year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seniors, students, youth, children | $63.25 | $125.25 | $229.25 | $415.50 |
| Adult | $78.75 | $155.75 | $285.25 | $517.50 |
| Household | $121 | $280.25 | $511.75 | $931 |
Drowning is fast, silent and preventable. This page provides helpful tips to ensure water safety at all times.
Whether at the beach, in a deep pool or in an inflatable pool, young swimmers should always be supervised by a responsible adult who:
Here is how you can be a Water Watcher:
Did you know that:
Everyone using your pool should:
Does your pool fence meet the City's Pool enclosure By-Laws?
Does the by-law apply to a portable pool?
Lifejackets, personal floatation devices, water wings, "pool noodles" and other floatation devices do not keep you safe in the pool. This equipment can be fun, but it is not a replacement for adult supervision!
Lifejackets and personal floatation devices must fit correctly to work. We don't recommend water wings as they can deflate or slip, leaving a child dangling under water.
The City has collaborated with Ottawa Public Health, Canadian Red Cross Society, and Lifesaving Society to incorporate public health prevention and mitigation measures that help reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.
When you come to an aquatics facility, you’re going to notice several changes we have made to ensure we live up to our commitment to keep everyone safe, including:
The capacity of amenities and other spaces will also be reduced to safe numbers. These changes will allow us to ensure that physical distancing can be practiced regardless of where you are in our facilities and spaces.
Ottawa Public Health states that the risk of serious illness from COVID-19 increases progressively with age, particularly beyond 50 to 60 years. In addition to increasing age, people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions (cardiovascular, high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic lung, chronic liver, cancer, immunocompromise) or severe obesity are at higher risk for severe illness. Every individual needs to take into account their personal risk factors when making decisions about going out.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the following safety measures are in place at City facilities:
Masks are required when entering the facility, in common areas, lobbies, washrooms, change rooms and hallways as per the Temporary Mandatory Mask By-Law.
We require that all clients wear masks. Only the following programs, activities and individuals are exempt from the mask requirement:
Those who are exempt need to let staff know at the entrance during the screening process and let us know how they meet one of the exceptions listed above. They may be asked to use a face shield if their circumstance allows.
All other City of Ottawa programs not listed above, require clients to wear masks throughout participation with the goal of preventing transmission and reduce the number of COVID-19 cases.
When you come to an aquatic facility, you’re going to notice several changes we have made to ensure we live up to our commitment to keep everyone safe, including:
Do your part to slow the spread by:
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the following safety measures have been implemented at City operated arenas:
Ottawa Public Health states that the risk of serious illness from COVID-19 increases progressively with age, particularly beyond 50 to 60 years. In addition to increasing age, people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions (cardiovascular, high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic lung, chronic liver, cancer, immunocompromise) or severe obesity are at higher risk for severe illness. Every individual needs to take into account their personal risk factors when making decisions about going out.
Many factors including temperature, thickness, snow cover, water depth and currents can affect ice safety.
More tips can be found on the Red Cross and Life Saving Society web sites.
