Rossland Swimming Pool

 

The Rossland Community Swimming Pool located on Columbia Avenue just off Spokane Street circa 1936.

The Rossland Swimming Pool serves as a shining example of the town’s community spirit. Planned, constructed, and completed in 1932, the pool was made possible by local committees and volunteers and has been enjoyed by Rosslanders ever since.

In April 1932, a delegation from the Canadian Legion presented plans for a local swimming pool at Rossland’s City Council. It was originally suggested that the pool be built across the road from the armory, where the water could be heated with the building’s system.

Shortly thereafter, a committee was formed to oversee the planning of the swimming pool, with James A. Wright as chairman. The committee solicited Rossland workers at the Trail smelter for cash donations or volunteer labour. 

When the city offered more affordable plots of land on Columbia Avenue, the committee decided to build the pool there instead. In June 1932, as plans materialized into construction, The Rossland Miner newspaper described a local swimming pool as “something which has been coveted for years.”

Construction was underway by the summer of 1932, under the supervision of City Engineer O. L. Colbourne. The construction of the pool relied much on volunteer work and donations. It was estimated that the pool would cost around $4,000 in total. This is equivalent to just over $84,500 in 2024.

Many regional entities were involved and interested in the construction of Rossland’s swimming pool. Bathing suits were displayed in local shops during construction. The Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company loaned a concrete mixer and the West Kootenay Power and Light Company supplied heating and lighting services. The Hunter Brothers general store (Hunter Brothers Limited) even presented the pool committee with $100 (over $2,000 in 2023 dollars). It was the largest donation the pool had received up to that point.

The Rossland Swimming Pool celebrated its 80th Birthday in 2012, and Rossland Recreation developed this video to commemorate the event.

The swimming pool finally opened on August 8, 1932. Mayor W. A. Turner and J. D. McDonald, superintendent of WKPL, both spoke at an opening event. Lorne Campbell, the general manager of WKPL, was originally going to speak, but unfortunately could not attend. However, Campbell was notably supportive of both the planning and installation of the pool. He even created a program of water sports and professional demonstrations of diving and swimming for the pool’s opening ceremony.

The Rossland Miner described the completed pool as “one of the most fully-equipped and pretty places of the kind to be found anywhere.”

When it first opened, the pool operated from 7:30 am to 11 am then 1 pm to 10 pm on weekdays. Adult member fees were 10 cents ($2.15 in 2023) and 25 cents ($5.34 in 2023) for non-members. Children of members would swim for five cents ($1.07 in 2023) and non-members for 15 cents ($3.20 in 2023). The board and committee of the pool felt it was essential for all local children to have access to the swimming pool, so it was decided that all Rossland children could swim in the pool free of charge on Saturday mornings. 

The pool remains open to this day, where adults can swim for $6 and children for $3.

The Rossland Swimming Pool contains approximately 321,760 litres (85,000 gallons) of water and measures about 9x27 metres (30x90 feet). It is located on Columbia Avenue near Spokane Street.

 

Listen to Alice Chiko (née Gordon) describe her memories of the Rossland swimming pool in the 1930s and ‘40s:

Interview recorded in September 2021. From the Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre Rossland Memories Oral History Project collection.

 
 

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