New Westminster – The City of New Westminster is pleased to announce that it will give the community a final chance to bid Farewell to Canada Games Pool. Guests can register to attend a 15-minute walk-through of the facility on Saturday, February 12, 2022, before doors close permanently. Registered community members will be able to collect a memento, take a final photo, participate in a memory art project, and more.

“After our difficult decision to decommission and close Canada Games Pool in November of last year, we’re happy to be able to give the community an opportunity to say goodbye to this facility before looking forward to the new təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre currently under construction,” said Mayor Jonathan X. Cote. “I invite everyone who has fond ties to the pool to come and take one last walk down memory lane.”

Canada Games Pool officially opened in 1973 and served the community and surrounding region for almost 50 years. Named for its initial use to host the 1973 Canada Summer Games, the Olympic-standard swimming and diving pool was, at the time, one of the largest in the country. The decision to close the pool was made in November 2021 after a leak was discovered in the main pool tank. Repairs to the pool would require extensive work and significant costs.  Canada Games Pool was previously scheduled to be decommissioned in August 2023 as part of the təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre construction project.

“We appreciate the significance this facility has in our community and throughout the region,” said Dean Gibson, Director of Parks and Recreation. “We hope this chance to walk through the Canada Games Pool one last time will help provide a sense of closure as we say goodbye to a piece of New Westminster history and look forward to creating new memories at our future aquatics and community centre.”

Guests can register to say Farewell to Canada Games Pool at newwestcity.ca/cgp or call 604-777-5100.  Fifteen-minute timeslots are available on Saturday, February 12, 2022 between 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. Please note that decommissioning work on the facility has begun and there will be no water in the pool.

To learn more about the future təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre at please visit youractivenw.ca.

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Media Contact:
Dean Gibson
Director of Parks and Recreation
604-527-4628