Victoria’s Crystal Pool to permanently close this week as work begins on replacement

Following the 2025 referendum for the Crystal Pool Replacement Project, the current facility’s decades of service will come to an end this week. 

Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre will officially close its door for good on Friday, September 25th, as the replacement project gets underway. 

For 55 years, Crystal Pool has been a valued community facility and has created opportunities for recreation, health and connection for generations of residents. 

Now, with the facility shutting down, the City of Victoria is shifting recreation programs and services to the interim recreation facility at 851 Broughton Street—the former downtown YMCA-YWCA location. 

This interim facility will be named Victoria Recreation Centre, and is intended to provide continued access to most recreation services while the permanent replacement facility is being built. 

However, due to a massive water main leak that occurred in the interim facility this summer, the City is mitigating damage and getting repairs and upgrades underway to prepare the facility for use. 

The City is projecting the interim facility will open in early 2027.

Once open, the Victoria Recreation Centre will offer expanded fitness areas, multi-purpose rooms, a gymnasium and squash courts. 

Additionally, the facility’s pool will accommodate aquatic services and will continue to offer swimming lessons, aquafit and swim club programs.

There will be reduced drop-in swimming opportunities due to the pool’s smaller size, according to the City.

Although there is no fall programming available through Crystal Pool or the interim facility this year, the City says that information about programs, schedules and services at the Victoria Recreation Centre will be shared in the coming months.

Prior to the closure of Crystal Pool, the City of Victoria is inviting residents to celebrate the pool’s legacy and memories. 

Between September 11th and 25th, visitors can check out historical photos in the Crystal Pool lobby, sign the memory wall and get a commemorative Crystal Pool sticker with admission.

The City will be providing information about the Crystal Pool Replacement Project in quarterly project updates, available via the Crystal Pool website.