Some public pools closed on Sunday, despite the city advertising extended hours at facilities as part of its plan to protect residents from extreme heat. City staff said that 19 pools closed for anywhere between 45 minutes to almost five hours.
But some advocates are saying we shouldn’t be relying on pools as the solution, especially under unpredictable weather patterns and in the climate crisis we’re in.
Safety Management Director Michael Shane, at the Lifesaving Society who train and certify lifeguards, says sometimes pools have no other choice but to close. Under Ontario Law, lifeguards are restricted to working short periods of time in extreme heat. While Lorraine Lam, an organizer with the Shelter and Housing Justice Network, tells our station she thinks the city should focus on considering other alternatives like bringing back 24/7 cooling centres.