Kamloops city council has directed staff to conduct a comprehensive operational review of the Westsyde Pool and Fitness Centre, citing low cost recovery, rising operating costs, and ongoing concerns about usage, staffing, and long-term sustainability.
The decision comes as part of council’s review of the 2026 budget, where staff reported the Westsyde Pool continues to operate well below the city’s target of 50% cost recovery for civic recreation facilities.
According to a staff report, the pool has averaged less than 27% cost recovery in recent years, with an annual operating cost of roughly $1 million. Over the past three years, the facility has required an average tax subsidy of more than $815,000 per year.
Location and Capacity Challenges
City staff acknowledged that the pool’s location and size present ongoing challenges.
Unlike the Canada Games Pool at Tournament Capital Centre (TCC), the Westsyde Pool is not situated along a major travel route or near a commercial hub, limiting drop-in use. The facility also has a smaller swimmer capacity, resulting in higher costs per user.
Chief Administrative Officer Byron McCorkle told council that pools are among the most expensive recreation facilities to operate due to heating, staffing, and utility costs, and that even well-used pools struggle to break even.
“Historically, council has aimed for about 50% cost recovery for pools,” McCorkle said, noting that the Canada Games Pool alone operates near that target, while Westsyde Pool lags far behind.
Council Pushes Broader Engagement
Councillors emphasized that the upcoming review must look beyond the Westsyde neighbourhood when exploring ways to increase use.
Councillor Mike O’Reilly suggested outreach to residents on the North Shore, Brocklehurst, Batchelor Heights, and surrounding areas to help reposition the pool as a city-wide facility.
“I think to get that place more active, it’s looking outside of what we would traditionally see as the users for that area,” O’Reilly said.
Community and Culture Director, Carmin Mazzotta agreed, saying community engagement will extend beyond Westsyde residents and include broader neighbourhoods that could realistically access the facility.
Staffing and Closures Raise Concerns
Councillor Bill Sarai raised concerns about past closures at the pool due to lifeguard shortages, warning that inconsistent hours could skew cost recovery figures and frustrate users.
“There have been times when users show up and the doors are locked,” Sarai said, adding that the city has invested $7.6 million in upgrades to the facility and should be ensuring it is fully operational.
Staff responded that while the aquatics industry continues to face recruitment challenges province-wide, lifeguard staffing has stabilized and revenues have increased despite previous closures. However, operating costs remain the primary issue affecting cost recovery.
Not Just Higher User Fees
Staff stressed that the review will not focus solely on raising admission fees, which could reduce accessibility.
Instead, the review will examine:
- Programming and scheduling,
- Hours of operation,
- Fitness centre integration,
- Staffing models,
- Marketing and outreach, and
- New ways to attract users from outside the immediate neighbourhood.
Mazzotta said both internal operational analysis and public engagement will shape the final recommendations.
Next Steps
The operational review is expected to take place in early 2026, with findings and recommendations to be presented to council later in the year.
Council will then decide whether changes are needed to programming, operations, or funding levels to improve cost recovery while maintaining access for residents.
For now, council opted not to reduce funding for the pool in the 2026 budget, choosing instead to gather more data before making long-term decisions.
