Westsyde Pool (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

WESTSYDE POOL REVIEW

City grapples with high subsidy, low usage of Westsyde Pool and Fitness Centre

Feb 12, 2026 | 4:35 PM

KAMLOOPS — At Tuesday’s (Feb. 10) Committee of the Whole meeting, Kamloops council outlined a number of initiatives developed to possibly lower the tax rate in the city, including the need to increase the amount of residents utilizing the Westsyde Pool and Fitness Centre. No hard decision was made around the pool, with city staff expected to bring a full report back to council later this year.

The City of Kamloops aims for recreational facilities to be funded through a near-even split of user fees and taxation. The Westsyde Pool and Fitness Centre is falling well below that mark.

“Generally speaking, we have tried to do 50 per cent. Pools, because of their huge operating costs on the daily – as far as just the heating of water and the cost of a lifeguard – are very difficult,” said CAO Byron McCorkell during the Tuesday meeting.

For reference, the Canada Games Pool runs at approximately 65 per cent cost recovery for the Tournament Capital Centre, allowing the city to slightly subsidize Westsyde.

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“Westsyde Pool suffers because of its small capacity for swimmers and its location,” added McCorkell. “Its swimmers’ load-to-costs are much higher than Canada Games Pool. That has been the challenge since day one, which is why we have challenged staff with [coming] up with some different strategies and maybe optimizing the hours we are open or the facility’s use.”

Council has asked staff to prepare a report, highlighting potential ways to increase usage of the facility, with the hopes of lowering the tax component.

“We are trying to find ways to get people to want to travel out there,” said Sport, Recreation and Wellness Manager Sherri Holmes. “We have explored ideas of increasing lessons, doing more rental opportunities, trying to engage to the school district more. It is challenging and we are trying to work through to see what we can do and we are hopeful we will come up with some strategies.”

Holmes stated that the city has brought in 20 new lifeguards recently to stabilize staffing.

Those utilizing the facilities believe the hours work, but say the city needs to increase advertising of the programs.

“They can best do that with advertising and instructing the people of Westsyde that, if they want this facility to stay here, number one they have to use it,” said Terry Davidson before a swim Thursday. “And number two, the City of Kamloops needs to get it out of their cranium, that this place is not going to close. It’s been here for 30 years, it will be here for another 40 years. If it needs some updating, do it.”

City staff noted that even with the closure, revenue at the Westsyde Pool was up last year, the challenge is so, too, were costs. 

It was also confirmed that the pool is not at risk of closure. 

“We will be working with our community, with the Westsyde Community Development Society and making sure we work with them and the North Shore community of how we can best service that area in our recreation services,” Holmes told CFJC News.