After several months of renovations, the Town of Hawkesbury announced the reopening of the sports complex pool on Monday, October 5.

Swimming enthusiasts and local families can once again enjoy the pool after an extended summer closure.
Initially, the pool closure had been considered for as early as late March. That original plan raised concerns within the ORCA Swim Club, whose competitive season and facility agreement were scheduled to run until the end of June.
Town council opted to defer the start of construction to July 2, aiming for a reopening in late August. Technical adjustments and safety inspections ultimately set the resumption of operations for October 5.

The rehabilitation of the steel joists in the pool sector is part of a broader infrastructure renewal plan for the sports complex, which includes technical assessments, roof replacement, and the replacement or repair of its dehumidification system.

To carry out these initiatives, the municipality approved a capital budget envelope of approximately $3.5 million during the 2026 fiscal year. The work was expedited following an $866,500 grant from the provincial Ontario Builds program.

This project stems from a striking finding in the 2025 Asset Management Plan, which identified nearly 83 per cent of the sports complex’s assets and facilities as being in very poor condition.

As of October 5, the municipal pool has resumed its regular schedule along with the fall recreation lineup, including public swimming, lane swims, swimming lessons for children and adults, dedicated sessions for seniors, as well as aqua fitness and aqua bike classes.

For its part, the ORCA Swim Club had to push back its first practice, originally scheduled for September 28, by one week.

Residents can find the detailed schedule, rates, and programming information on the Town of Hawkesbury’s website.