Swimming

Check out the swim schedules.

Choose how you want to submerge yourself in the City’s pools

• Lane swim: Continuous lane swim workout. Children age eight to 10 must pass the facility's swim test. There may be opportunities for lane swims during family and public swims.
• Family swim: An unstructured swim time open to children and youth when accompanied by an adult who participates in the water. Adults do not have to bring a child to these swims. Check with your aquatic facility for lane swimming opportunities during family swims.
• Public swim: An unstructured swim time open to all ages. Non-swimmers aged 10 and under, and all children aged 7 and under must be accompanied by a participating adult or youth, at least 14 years of age, responsible for the direct supervision of the child and actively swimming within arms reach at all times. Children aged 8, 9 and 10 must be tested to demonstrate their ability to swim 25M uninterrupted in order to be permitted to swim unaccompanied. During public swims at wave pools, the waves will be turned off. Check with your aquatic facility for lane swimming opportunities during public swims.
• Wave swim: A swim with the waves activated at a wave pool open to all ages. Non-swimmers aged 10 and under, and all children aged 7 and under must be accompanied by a participating adult or youth, at least 14 years of age, responsible for the direct supervision of the child and actively swimming within arms reach at all times. Children aged 8, 9 and 10 must be tested to demonstrate their ability to swim 25M uninterrupted in order to be permitted to swim unaccompanied. Available at the Kanata Leisure Centre, Ray Friel Recreation Complex and Splash Wave Pool.
• Teen swim: Unstructured swim for teens age 13 to 19.
• Women-only swim: Unstructured swim for women and girls 14 years and older.
• Women-only family swim: Unstructured swim for women and their children. Women do not have to bring children to participate. Boys over the age of six are not permitted.
• Swim for persons with disabilities: Free swim available at the Jack Purcell Community Centre. Participants must complete a participant information form. If you need assistance in the change room, you must bring an attendant who will be admitted for free.
• Pre-school swim: Unstructured pool playtime for parents and their pre-schoolers in limited pool space.
• 50+ Vitality: A 30-minute class of light exercise followed by a public swim for people 50 years and older. Available at the Canterbury Recreation Complex, Lowertown Pool and St. Laurent Complex.
• 50+ swim: Lap swimming for adults 50 years and older.

The City has many places for you and your family to enjoy the water. Each location offers a broad range of fun and athletic programs.

• 20 indoor pools, nine outdoor pools and three wave pools
• 56 wading pools and 127 splash pads
• Four beaches

Browse and sign up for lessons or programs:

Fall 2019 and winter 2020 Recreation eGuides:

• Swim Lessons: Pools A to M [ PDF - 953.26 KB ]
• Swim Lessons: Pools N to Z [ PDF - 1.01 MB ]
• Certification and Specialty Swimming [ PDF - 789.95 KB ]

Private lessons are also offered. Please contact the pool of your choice for more information.

You can also join a drop-in swim session at a City pool near you.

East Ottawa: Indoor pools

• Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex, 1490 Youville Drive
• Canterbury Recreation Complex, 2185 Arch Street
• Champagne Fitness Centre, 321 King Edward Avenue
• François Dupuis Recreation Centre, 2263 Portobello Boulevard
• Lowertown Pool, 40 Cobourg Street
• Ray Friel Recreation Complex, 1585 Tenth Line Road (also has a wave pool)
• Splash Wave Pool, 2040 Ogilvie Road (also has a lap pool)
• St-Laurent Complex, 525 Côté Street

East Ottawa: Outdoor pools (summer only)

• Bearbrook Outdoor Pool, 2679 Innes Road
• Genest Outdoor Pool, 43 Ste-Cécile Street

South Ottawa: Indoor pools

• Brewer Pool and Arena, 100 Brewer Way
• Deborah Anne Kirwan Pool, 1300 Kitchener Avenue
• Sawmill Creek Community Centre and Pool, 3380 D’Aoust Avenue

West Ottawa: Indoor pools

• CARDELREC Recreation Complex, 1500 Shea Road
• Kanata Leisure Centre and Wave Pool, 70 Aird Place
• Minto Recreation Complex, 3500 Cambrian Road
• Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroffe Avenue
• Pinecrest Recreation Complex, 250 Torquay Avenue
• Plant Recreation Centre, 930 Somerset Street West
• Richcraft Recreation Complex, 4101 Innovation Drive
• Walter Baker Sports Centre, 100 Malvern Drive

West Ottawa: Outdoor pools (summer only)

• Beaverbrook Outdoor Pool, 1002 Beaverbrook Road
• Corkstown Outdoor Pool, 61 Corkstown Road
• Crestview Outdoor Pool, 56 Fieldrow Street
• Entrance Outdoor Pool, 2 Eaton Street
• General Burns Outdoor Pool, 107 Chesterton Drive
• Glen Cairn Outdoor Pool, 70 Castlefrank Road
• Katimavik Outdoor Pool, 64 Chimo Drive

Central Ottawa: Indoor pools

• Jack Purcell Community Centre, 320 Jack Purcell Lane

Wave pools

• Kanata Leisure Centre and Wave Pool, 70 Aird Place
• Ray Friel Recreation Complex, 1585 Tenth Line Road
• Splash Wave Pool, 2040 Ogilvie Road

There are safety standards so that everyone can enjoy the City’s swimming pools. 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.

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.

Please note that City Council has approved a 2.5% fee increase for 2020 registered programs, admissions, memberships and rentals.

2019 standard and outdoor pool fees

Bearbrook Outdoor Pool, Beaverbrook Outdoor Pool, Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex-Orléans, Brewer Pool, Canterbury Pool, Champagne Fitness Centre, 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, Jack Purcell Community Centre, Katimavik Outdoor Pool, Lowertown Pool, Pinecrest Recreation Centre, Plant Recreation Centre, Sawmill Creek Pool, St-Laurent Complex

• Two years and under: Free
• Three to 18 years: $2.50
• Full-time students: $2.50
• 19 to 64 years: $5.25
• 65 years and older: $3.25
• One to two adults and their children: $2.50 per person
• Groups of 10 or more: $2.25 per person

2019 leisure pool fees

CARDELREC Recreation Complex, Kanata Leisure Centre and Wave Pool, Minto Recreation Complex-Barrhaven, Nepean Sportsplex, Ray Friel Recreation Complex, Richcraft Recreation Complex-Kanata, Splash Wave Pool, Walter Baker Sports Complex

• Two years and under: Free
• Three to 18 years: $3.75
• Full-time students: $3.75
• 19 to 64 years: $5.75
• 65 years and older: $4.75
• One to two adults and their children: $3.75 per person
• Groups of 10 or more: $3.25 per person
• Whirlpool/steam (Kanata Leisure Pool and Walter Baker Sports Centre): $4.75

2019 wave pool fees

Kanata Leisure Centre and Wave Pool, Ray Friel Recreation Complex, Splash Wave Pool

• Two years and under: Free
• Three to 18 years: $6.75
• Full-time students: $6.75
• 19 to 64 years: $9.25
• 65 years and older: $7.75
• One to two adults and their children: $6.75 per person
• Groups of 10 or more residents: $5.75 per person
• Groups of 10 or more non-residents: $6.75 per person

2019 aquafit fees

Drop in for a general Aquafitness class.

• Seniors, students and youth: $7.75
• Adults: $9.00

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.

2019 membership fees for leisure, outdoor and standard pools

Please note that City Council has approved a 2.5% fee increase for 2020 registered programs, admissions, memberships and rentals.

2019 membership fees for the Kanata Leisure Centre, the Ray Friel Recreation Complex and the Splash Wave Pool

Please note that City Council has approved a 2.5% fee increase for 2020 registered programs, admissions, memberships and rentals.

2019 aquafitness membership fees

Please note that City Council has approved a 2.5% fee increase for 2020 registered programs, admissions, memberships and rentals.

2019 combined swim and aquafitness membership fees

Please note that City Council has approved a 2.5% fee increase for 2020 registered programs, admissions, memberships and rentals.

Trick treat or swim tickets are no longer available. They will be back on sale October 2020.

Be sure to use your 2019 tickets before January 31, 2020. Kids ages three to 15 can redeem their tickets from November 1, 2019 to January 31, 2020 during regularly scheduled public or family swims and skates at City pools and select arenas.

Tickets are not valid for wave swims or specialty skating sessions.

• 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.

Each ratio below 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.

Put your toes in the sand or get involved in some water fun at one of the City’s public beaches.

• East Ottawa: Petrie Island Beach, 727 Trim Road, 613-824-5704
• West Ottawa: Britannia Beach, 2805 Carling Avenue, 613-820-1211
• South Ottawa: Mooney’s Bay Beach, 2926 Riverside Drive, 613-248-0863
• Central Ottawa: Westboro Beach, 745 Sir John A. MacDonald Parkway, 613-792-3875

Lifeguards are no longer on duty at City beaches.

Comfort stations are located at Petrie Island until October 9, 2019, and at Mooney’s Bay until October 8, 2019.

Rent stand-up paddle boards and volleyball nets at Petrie Island, Britannia and Mooney's Bay from May 18 to September 2, 2019. Westboro Beach offers rentals from June 15 to August 25, 2019.

• Volleyball nets: $17 per hour, $55 per day
  • Photo ID required
• Stand-up paddleboards: $21 per hour
  • Participants must be 18 years or older
  •  Photo ID required
• Inquire at any beaches’ Lifeguard Office, for more information email beaches@ottawa.ca

Accessible wheel chairs available at Britannia Beach, Mooney’s Bay Beach and Petrie Island Beach from June 15 to August 25, 2019. Available daily between noon to 6:30 pm

• Beach accessible wheel chair - Available to rent at no cost
• For availability, please contact:
  • Britannia Beach 613-820-1211
  • Mooney’s Bay 613-248-0863
  • Petrie Island 613-824-5704
  • or beaches@ottawa.ca

• 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:

• 613-580-2595
• sports@ottawa.ca

To bring your group to swim at the beach, contact Beach Operations:

• 613-580-2424 ext.16966
• beaches@ottawa.ca

Petrie Island Beach

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.

• May 18 to September 2, 2019: Paid parking from 7 am to 6 pm (seasonal passes available)
• May 18 to September 2, 2019: rentals available
  • 10:30 am to 9 pm, Monday to Thursday
  • 10:30 am to 7 pm, Friday to Sunday
• Information will be forthcoming as the water recedes with regards to opening the washrooms
• Canteen
• Lifeguards
• Picnic tables
• Play structure

Britannia Beach

Located on the Ottawa River at Britannia Bay, the beach is great for swimming, picnics or watching the sailboats go by.

• May 18 to September 2, 2019: rentals available
  • 10:30 am to 9 pm, Monday to Thursday
  • 10:30 am to 7 pm, Friday to Sunday
• Information will be forthcoming as the water recedes with regards to opening the washrooms.
• Free parking
• Canteen
• Outdoor showers
• Picnic tables
• BBQ pits in the park
• Play structures
• Lifeguards
• Accessible wheel chair
• Accessible washroom

Mooney’s Bay Beach

A popular summer destination for swimmers, rowers and special events, including Dragon Boat Races and HOPE Volleyball.

• May 18 to September 2, 2019: Paid parking between 7 am and 6 pm (seasonal passes available)
• May 18 to September 2, 2019: Washrooms and rentals available
  • 10:30 am to 9 pm, Monday to Thursday
  • 10:30 am to 7 pm, Friday to Sunday
• Canteen
• Picnic tables
• BBQ pits in the park
• Play structures
• Lifeguards

Westboro Beach

This beach is located on National Capital Commission property at Kitchissippi Lookout on the Ottawa River.

• June 15 to August 25, 2019: Washrooms and rentals available
  • Noon to 7 pm, Monday to Sunday
• Free parking
• Canteen and patio with tables
• Picnic tables
• Lifeguards

Water safety

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.

Water quality

Beach water quality is tested daily for the presence of E coli bacteria. Learn more from Ottawa Public Health.

Beach camps

The City of Ottawa beaches offers a variety of Lifesaving certifications and camps programs. Join the Junior Waterfront Lifeguard Club today!

• Browse page 10 of the 2019 JWLC Certification Camps
• Browse page 27 of the 2019 JWLC Sports, Bronze Medallion, and Bronze Cross Camps

For more information, please contact:

Charlie Séguin (613) 580-2424 Ext. 33205
Jacob Fitts (613) 580-2424 Ext.41219
beaches.programming@ottawa.ca

The City offers a broad range of Red Cross swimming lessons, Aquafit and other pool activities.

• Swim Lessons: Pools A to M [ PDF - 3.70 MB ]
• Swim Lessons: Pools N to Z [ PDF - 763 MB ]
• Certification and Specialty Swimming [ PDF - 466 KB ]
• Private lessons are offered. Please contact the pool of your choice for more information.

Drowning is fast, silent and preventable. This page provides helpful tips to ensure water safety at all times.

Adult supervision while swimming

Whether at the beach, in a deep pool or in an inflatable pool, young swimmers should always be supervised by a responsible adult who:

• Knows how to swim
• Has access to a reliable phone to call 911 in the event of an emergency
• Knows the location of safety equipment
• Knows basic water rescue, first aid, and CPR

Be a Water Watcher

Here is how you can be a Water Watcher:

• Make sure a responsible adult who can swim is supervising your backyard pool any time people are in the water.
  • Drowning is the second leading cause of preventable death for children under 10 years of age. Backyard pools are the number one location where these drownings occur, often during a short lapse in supervision.
• Stay within arm's reach of non-swimmers.
  • Be close enough to provide immediate help. All children under 5 years should always be within arm’s reach of an adult when near water or in the water.
• Stay close to the pool's edge.
  • You need to be able to see or "scan" the entire surface and bottom of the pool and be able to respond quickly.
• Watch every child. Get extra help if needed.
  • Watch children's faces to see if they look panicked. This could mean they are in distress. If you're having trouble keeping track of all the children, get help from another Water Watcher supervisor to help.
• Make sure weak and non-swimmers wear lifejackets or personal floatation devices.
  • Lifejackets or personal floatation devices can help prevent accidents but they do not replace adult supervision.
• Ensure constant supervision. Drowning is fast and silent.
  • Need a bathroom break? Time to tend to the BBQ? Want to check your phone? Designate another responsible adult as the Water Watcher in your absence. Drowning is fast. It can happen in only inches of water and in a matter of seconds!

Backyard pool safety

Did you know that:

• Backyard pools are the number one location where children drown.
• Each year in Canada, an average of 487 people die from drowning.
• Drowning can occur in as little as 10 to 20 seconds, in only centimeters of water.

Everyone using your pool should:

• Know how to swim. It's never too late to learn how to swim.
• Know which part of the pool is deep or shallow.
• Know the location of the nearest phone.
• Always swim with a buddy, never alone.
• Be sober. Alcohol and pools don't mix.
• Stay out of the pool if there's thunder, lightning, or if the bottom of the pool cannot be seen clearly.

Pool fences

Does your pool fence meet the City's Pool enclosure By-Laws?

• The minimum fence height allowed in Ottawa is 1.5 m or 5 feet 153 cm (60 inches).
• Every swimming pool fence gate must have a self-closing and self-latching mechanism.

Does the by-law apply to a portable pool?

• The By-law applies to any privately-owned outdoor pool of water able to hold a water depth equal to or greater than 600 mm (24 in) at any point.
• This includes ponds, blow up pools, self-inflating pools, and hot tubs.

Life jackets and pool toys

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.