- 55 wading pools and 145 splash pads
- 13 indoor pools
- 9 outdoor pools
- 4 beaches
Make a reservation for a drop-in public or lane swim. Those without a reservation will be admitted as capacity limits allow.
Make a reservation for a drop-in public or lane swim. Those without a reservation will be admitted as capacity limits allow.
Outdoor pools are now closed for the season.
The City of Ottawa Splash Pads will be in operation from May 21 until September 15 (weather dependent). Splash pad sites are unsupervised.
The following splash pads require repairs which will result in a delayed opening:
The 55 Wading pools across the city will open Tuesday, June 21, 2022.
There is no cost to swim at a City of Ottawa wading pool.
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 Mooney’s Bay, Britannia and Petrie Island will be open for supervised swimming from 11 am to 7 pm starting June 18 until August 28, 2022 inclusively. Washrooms will be for the season starting May 21 until September 5, 2022 inclusively.
Note: Westboro Beach will be closed for the 2022 season due to a redevelopment project being led by the National Capital Commission.
Put your toes in the sand or get involved in some water fun at one of the City’s public beaches.
There is a fee for parking at Mooney’s Bay and Petrie Island. Check octranspo.com to help plan your transit route to parks and beaches.
Keep our beaches and parks clean by not littering. Dispose of your waste in bins or bring it home to dispose of in your green bin or your recycling and garbage bins.
Ottawa Public Health conducts daily water quality testing for the presence of E coli bacteria. Check Beach Water Quality Results - Ottawa Public Health for the latest water-quality results and no swimming advisories.
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.
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 are available at Mooney’s Bay Beach, Britannia Beach and Petrie Island Beach. Available daily from 11:30 to 6:30 pm on a first-come-first-serve basis from June 18 to August 28, 2022. There is no cost to rent wheelchairs.
Users are required to provide their own attendant to push the chair and assist with the transfer in and out of the chair. There is no lift on site.
To check the availability of beach-accessible wheelchairs, please contact:
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 watching the boats go by.
A popular summer destination for swimmers, rowers, and special events, including Dragon Boat Races and HOPE Volleyball.
Westboro beach will be closed for the 2022 season due to a redevelopment project being led by the National Capital Commission.
This beach is located on National Capital Commission property at Kitchissippi Lookout on the Ottawa River.
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 drop-in schedules and reserve a spot.
View swimming fees.
Browse the eGuides for certifications and specialty swim programs.
Registration for Aquatic programs opens Monday, March 7 at 9 pm.
Browse the eGuides for swimming lessons, certifications and specialty swim programs.
Registration for aquatic programs opens Monday, May 9 at 9 pm.
You can also register in person by visiting a recreation facility or client service centre.
Client service centre in-person service is available by appointment only. Please select a location to book an appointment time:
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 Child must wear a wristband |
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 Child must wear a wristband |
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 |
Age | Admission requirements | Staff:child ratio |
---|---|---|
Five years and under | Staff must be within arms reach at all times Child must wear a wristband |
1:4 |
Six to nine years, height under 115 cm and cannot pass facility's swim test | Staff must be within arms reach at all times Child must wear a wristband |
1:4 |
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 Recreation Complex, Corkstown Outdoor Pool, Crestview Outdoor Pool, Deborah Anne Kirwan Pool, Entrance Outdoor Pool, François Dupuis Recreation Centre, Jack Purcell Community Centre, General Burns Outdoor Pool, Genest Outdoor Pool, Glen Cairn Outdoor Pool, Katimavik Outdoor Pool, Lowertown Pool, Pinecrest Recreation Complex, Plant Recreation Centre, Sawmill Creek Pool, St Laurent Complex
CARDELREC Recreation Complex Goulbourn, Kanata Leisure Centre and Wave Pool (without waves), Minto Recreation Complex-Barrhaven, Nepean Sportsplex, Ray Friel Recreation Complex (without waves), Richcraft Recreation Complex-Kanata, Splash Wave Pool (without waves), Walter Baker Sports Centre
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 | $26.00 | $51.50 | $94.00 | $170.25 |
Adult | $56.25 | $111.75 | $204.25 | $369.50 |
Household: Up to two related adults, with or without their child(ren) all living at the same address. Children must be age 25 or younger. | $108.75 | $216.75 | $396.50 | $683.75 |
1 month | 3 months | 6 months | 1 year | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Seniors, students, youth, children | $52.75 | $119.00 | $182.00 | $299.00 |
Adult | $71.50 | $162.75 | $261.25 | $406.25 |
Household: Up to two related adults, with or without their child(ren) all living at the same address. Children must be age 25 or younger. | $132.50 | $263.00 | $455.50 | $832.25 |
2022 Aquafitness membership
You can purchase an aquafitness membership, or you may also get a combined aquafitness and swimming membership to take a variety of fitness classes in different depths of water.
1 month | 3 month | 6 month | 1 year | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Adult | $72.25 | $143.75 | $262.00 | $475.25 |
Youth (13 to 18), full-time student or senior (65 and older): | $58.25 | $115.25 | $210.75 | $381.50 |
Household: Up to two related adults, with or without their child(ren) all living at the same address. Children must be age 25 or younger. | $116.25 | $257.50 | $470.75 | $854.75 |
1 month | 3 month | 6 month | 1 year | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Adult | $80.25 | $159.00 | $291.00 | $527.75 |
Youth (13 to 18), full-time student or senior (65 and older): | $64.50 | $127.75 | $233.75 | $424.00 |
Household: Up to two related adults, with or without their child(ren) all living at the same address. Children must be age 25 or younger. | $123.25 | $257.50 | $522.00 | $949.50 |
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.
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.
Saturday, June 4 is National Health and Fitness Day and the City of Ottawa is celebrating. Here are a few ideas on how you can get active and join the national movement the week of May 30 to June 5:
Try this activity sheet [ PDF - 1.2 mb ] with some fun ways to get active outside. The multilingual instructions are in English, Spanish, French, Somali, Simple Chinese and Arabic.
Participate in a free virtual Zumba on Saturday, June 4 at 9:30 am. Inspired by Latin and international dance, this is a great cardio class with a focus on fun and sweating. Blast calories through salsa, merengue, samba, belly dance, reggaeton, and hip-hop. Register in advance with barcode 1634869.
Bring a friend to join you for a swim or a weight/cardio workout on Saturday, June 4 and enjoy 2 for 1 pricing on day passes at City facilities.