James MartinSummer’s the time for some poolside antics, whether you’re basking in the rays or seeking refuge in the cool indoors. But listen up: I’ve got a cautionary tale to share if you’re plotting a dip in a Halifax pool this season.
A few years back, I was buried so deep in work that I forgot summer even existed until it was practically slipping away.
Just imagine the frantic scramble into my swimsuit and the desperate Google search for Halifax’s hottest pools to salvage what remained of the sunny season. And let me tell you, the sheer number of options nearly floored me!
But then came the million-dollar query: with time ticking faster than a melting popsicle, which pools were worthy of a visit?
Faster than you can say “water cannonball,” I whipped up a list of Halifax’s finest aquatic establishments, ensuring my last-minute aquatic escapades would be nothing short of epic.
Now whether you’re as clueless as I was or you’ve got your summer itinerary color-coded and annotated, get ready to soak up every last bit of sunshine (and maybe a stray autumn leaf or two) at these top-notch Halifax pools!
Moral of the story? Don’t let summer sneak up on you like a stealthy seagull. Plan ahead, or you might end up all dried up with no pool to plunge into!
The Needham Community Centre
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Website: http://www.halifax.ca/recreation/facilities-fields/rec-centres/needham-community-centre
Address: 3372 Devonshire Ave
Contact: +1 902-490-4633
Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM–9 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: 8:30 AM–7 PM
The Needham Community Centre is your all-in-one playground and procrastination station!
Needham’s got memberships and drop-in fees, perfect for commitment phobes and regulars alike. A membership gets you into Needham Pool, Spryfield, and the Sackville Sports Stadium.
The membership covers all leisure swims, water exercises, and lane swimming — because who doesn’t love a good water aerobics session with retirees?
Memberships and 10-visit passes let you roam freely around the pool and fitness centers at both the Sackville Sports Stadium and the Captain Spry Community Centre.
A single-visit pool pass covers Aquafit and Lane Swimming, while an open swim pass includes open swims and Parent & Tot chaos. Indoor swimming pool fees start at $1.81 for an open swim pass, so you really have no excuse!
| Pro Tip: Grab a 1-visit pass if commitment isn’t your thing, but be ready to dodge the splash zone filled with over-enthusiastic toddlers. |
Halifax Commons Pool
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Address: 1999 Bell Rd
Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 7 AM–8 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: 10 AM–7 PM
The new Halifax Common pool is right between Cogswell Street and Bell Road on the Halifax Mainland Common.
It has a 25-meter, five-lane pool and three climbing walls for your inner Spider-Man! Not enough? There’s also a beach entry with play features for the kiddos and spacious universal change rooms.
The pool offers activities like lane swimming, swimming lessons, and open swims — keeping everyone from newbies to seasoned swimmers entertained. Access to lane swimming and open swims is free, but it’s a first-come, first-served deal!
Color-coded bracelets are handed out for each swim session starting at 10 AM, with a max of 5 bracelets per person for a one-time slot. Once your swim time is up, you’ll be politely booted out to make way for the next group of eager swimmers.
While casual swims are free, you’ll have to cough up some cash for swimming lessons, rentals, and aquatic sports.
| Pro Tip: For those needing a bit of extra support, the pool offers adaptive equipment like lifejackets, a pool lift, and an aquatic wheelchair to ensure everyone can enjoy the water. |
Canada Games Centre
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Website: http://canadagamescentre.ca/
Address: 26 Thomas Raddall Dr
Contact: +1 902-490-2400
Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 5:30 AM–10 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: 7 AM–9 PM
The Canada Games Centre is where you go to either make a splash or make a fool of yourself — but either way, it’s fun! You can challenge yourself with a lane swim if you’re feeling serious or get your heart pumping with an aquafit class!
Out with the fam? Just create unforgettable memories at a group swim or embarrass yourself with a new swim lesson—it all goes down here!
You can try diving into their 25-metre Leisure Pool for some casual swimming or show off your butterfly and backstroke in the eight-lane Competition Pool.
If you’re still learning the ropes, just splash around in the shallow Tots Pool or play in the sprinklers and spray features.
Want to channel your inner daredevil? Spring off one of their four diving boards or spin down one (or both!) of their water slides!
| Pro Tip: If you can’t swim to save your life, just stick to the water slides and hot tub and let the lifeguards handle the rest! |
Wave Pool at Captain William Spry Community Centre
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Website: http://www.halifax.ca/rec/centrescaptainspry
Address: 16 Sussex St
Contact: +1 902-477-7665
Hours:
- Closed from Sunday to Monday
- Tuesday to Friday: 9 AM–9 PM
- Saturday: 10 AM–5 PM
The Spryfield Wave Pool has a 25-meter, 4-lane lap area for those who take their swimming seriously. There’s also a 15-meter diameter graduated beach area for when you want to pretend you’re at a tropical resort.
And let’s not forget the waves — ranging from 1/2 to 1 1/2 meters — perfect for your inner surfer (only during wave swims though, so plan accordingly).
And for some relaxation, enjoy the five in-pool therapeutic water jets massaging your troubles away. But if you’re feeling adventurous, try conquering the rock climbing wall or whooshing down the 2-yard ape pool slides.
Oh, and did we mention there are group discounts and passes? Plus, the facility is wheelchair accessible, so everyone can join in on the fun!
| Pro Tip: When you need a breather, chill out on the deck-side patio area and soak up the ambiance. |
Sackville Sports Stadium
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Website: http://www.thestadium.ca/
Address: 409 Glendale Dr
Contact: +1 902-869-4141
Hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 5:15 AM–9:45 PM
- Friday: 5:15 AM–9 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: 7 AM–9 PM
At the Sackville Sports Stadium pool, you can brace yourself for some aquatic excitement because this pool is no joke! Just imagine a 25-meter, 6-lane lap area for your serious swimming endeavors and a separate leisure pool for chilling with the tots!
And if you’re into fun and frolic, there’s a rope swing to unleash your inner Tarzan (or Jane), a diving board for those daring moments, and spray features plus a small slide for added splash-tastic fun!
Now, let’s talk membership perks. The All Access Membership comes in different flavors: 1 Month, Annual, or 1 Month Auto Renewal — catering to every commitment level.
And what’s included, you ask? Oh, just everything you could possibly imagine: access to the Co-Ed Fitness Centre for those gains, Group Exercise classes to make you sweat, and Public Swims for your mermaid (or merman) moments!
| Pro Tip: You can either pay in full for 1 month or annual memberships or go for the convenience of monthly payments with the Monthly Auto-Renewal plan. |
Bedford Outdoor Pool
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Address: 277 Shore Dr
Contact: +1 902-490-4682
Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8:45 AM–8 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: 10 AM–6:45 PM
It’s time to take the plunge at the Bedford Outdoor Pool, where even the sun seems to sweat.
Tucked away on Shore Drive in Bedford, this aquatic haven boasts not one, but two pools! Now you know there’s enough space for your synchronized swimming routine and your neighbor’s failed attempts at the butterfly stroke.
With a variety of play features that’ll make you feel like a kid again (or at least until you try to climb out of the pool), the Bedford Outdoor Pool is the place to be during the sweltering summer months.
But don’t get too attached — like a summer fling, it’s only open from July 1st to August 31st, leaving you pining for those warm, chlorine-scented days come September.
Membership options cater to all walks of life, from the wise seniors doing water aerobics to the energetic teens perfecting their cannonballs!
| Pro Tip: Go for the 1-visit pass if you prefer your aquatic adventures with a side of spontaneity, but be prepared to dodge cannonballs and crying toddlers alike. |
Cole Harbour Outdoor Pool
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Website: http://halifax.ca/rec
Address: 609 Colby Drive
Contact: +1 902-490-5458 extension 4
Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 12–8 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: 11 AM–4 PM, 5–8 PM
You gotta dive into the Cole Harbour Outdoor Pool for some sun-soaked fun! This al fresco oasis has 6 lanes of 25-meter goodness, complete with a slide and a splash pad that’s practically a water wonderland.
Whether you’re a water baby or a reluctant swimmer, there’s something for everyone here!
Just mark your calendars because this aquatic paradise is only open from July 1st to August 31st each summer. During those precious months, they offer pool memberships and drop-ins for all ages and stages of life.
Whether you’re a lone wolf or part of a pack (family of 5, to be exact), there’s a pass for you.
Memberships, 1-visit passes, and 10-visit passes grant you access to the pool when it’s not too crowded with screaming kids. A single-visit pool pass lets you join in on the Aquafit action or do your best Michael Phelps impression in the lane swimming!
| Pro Tip: Don’t forget your sunscreen and floaties! And if you’re a pro at dodging cannonballs, aim for the lane with the fewest kids — you’ll thank me later. |
Halifax Centennial Pool
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Website: https://www.centennialpool.ca/
Address: 1970 Gottingen St
Contact: +1 902-490-7219
Hours:
- Monday, Wednesday: 7:30 AM–8 PM
- Tuesday, Thursday: 7:30 AM–9:30 PM
- Friday: 7:30 AM–6:30 PM
- Saturday: 11:15 AM–7:45 PM
- Sunday: 10:45 AM–6:45 PM
The Halifax Centennial Pool is one of just two 50-meter pools in the Halifax Regional Municipality, giving swimmers plenty of room to doggy paddle or perfect their butterfly stroke!
The place has six lanes with a movable bulkhead because sometimes you feel like swimming a marathon — and other times, you just want to pretend you’re Michael Phelps in a 50-meter sprint, am I right?
The pièce de résistance? The only 10-meter diving tower complex in all of Nova Scotia.
If you’ve got a fear of heights, just stick to the one and three-meter springboards for some less dramatic plunges. For those needing a bit of extra help, there’s a therapeutic chair lift and EZ Ladder to get you in and out of the water with dignity intact.
And don’t forget to go to the spectator gallery, where you can watch your friends attempt to perfect their cannonballs.
| Pro Tip: Oh, and don’t even think about bringing your fancy scented products into Centennial Pool. They’re a scent-aware facility, meaning they won’t tolerate anything that might trigger a sneeze or a cough. |
