Aquatics

Starting this Friday, July 24, and continuing through to the end of August, the Lions Pool will host free swimming during family swim programs at 2:15 p.m. and 6 p.m. An anonymous organization will sponsor both swims, supporting children and families to enjoy the water at no cost.

Admittance to the family swims are on a first-come, first-serve basis with a maximum of 40 individuals in the pool at any one time. 

The City of Stratford takes the health and safety of Lions Pool patrons and staff seriously. In keeping with current government regulations to stop the transmission and spread of germs, everyone attending the Stratford Lions Pool must adhere to the following instructions: 

1. Do not attend the facility if you are unwell or sick. 
2. Help stop the spread of germs by washing your hands properly and frequently, cough into your sleeve, and sanitize your hands before entering and upon leaving the facility.
3. Maintain physical distancing of 2 metres apart (6 feet) from any staff or person not within your social bubble.
4. Wear face coverings when indoors.  

We have a few important swim policies and procedures you should know before arriving at the pool. Please review our admittance policies prior to attending the facility. 

The Stratford Lions Pool will officially open on July 10, 2020. To meet current government regulations to stop the transmission and spread of germs, we have created a new summer swim program and have health and safety protocols to protect all attending the facility. Our swim schedule includes reservable lengths, private AquaPod swims, water fitness classes and open family swims. 

To learn more about our 2020 summer swim season, please read below. 

According to an operational plan developed by staff, the modified pool program would involve:

• Operating hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and noon to 8 p.m. on weekends
• Forty-five minute sessions
• A maximum of 46 people per session
• A combination of length swimming, water fitness, lower capacity family swims and swimming by reservation in pre-determined, physically distanced sections of the pool (known as aquatic pods)

Swimmers will be able to reserve and pay in advance for a session, either online or by phone, and any unreserved spots made available on a first-come first-serve basis at the front desk. Details on how to register and participate in these swims will be available on the City’s website in the coming week.

Safety measures will include physical distancing and the use of face coverings where possible, and cleaning of the facility after each 45-minute session.

Swim team and swim lessons will be cancelled as COVID-19 physical distancing measures aren’t achievable. Staff will issue full refunds directly to registrants.

The projected opening date for the Lions Pool is July 10, 2020.

We take the health and safety of our patrons and staff seriously. In keeping with current government regulations to stop the transmission and spread of germs, everyone attending the Stratford Lions Pool must strictly follow these instructions:

1. Do not attend the facility if you are unwell or sick. 
2. Help stop the spread of germs by washing your hands properly and frequently, cough into your sleeve, and sanitize your hands before entering and upon leaving the facility.
3. Maintain physical distancing of 2 metres apart (6 feet) from any staff or person not within your social bubble. 

It is highly recommended to make a reservation online for all eligible swim programs (lengths, water fitness, AquaPods), otherwise last minute admission into swims will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Reserve online now. 

1. Any admission taken at the front counter will be contactless and paid by debit or credit card only. No cash will be taken.
2. Upon entering the facility, patrons will be asked to sanitize hands. 
3. Although not mandatory, wearing face coverings when indoors at the facility is highly recommended. The City of Stratford does not provide face coverings.
4. Change rooms and single showers will be made available however, it is preferred that patrons arrive already showered and changed for swimming.
5. As personal belongings cannot be stored by staff while swimming, patrons will be required to take their items onto the pool deck. Supervision of personal belongings is the sole responsibility of each patron, and the City of Stratford will not be held responsible for lost or stolen items. 
6. Washrooms will be made available to patrons, however only 1 person at a time may access the washroom areas inside the change rooms. 
7. Please respect physical distancing when engaging with staff and/or with patrons not in personal social bubbles.

The Pool will remain open on rainy days, unless: thunder and/or lightning is evident; or, the downpour is so heavy, that the black dot on the bottom of the pool is not visible.  If either of the above two points are present, the pool must be closed immediately.  It may re-open after a ten-minute interval void of these two conditions, or upon the discretion of the Supervisor on duty.

In the event of the pool being fouled, the pool will be cleared immediately.  The required maintenance for fouled pools will be completed.

• If a reserved swim is cancelled due to inclement weather within 20 minutes of the reservation start time, an account credit or refund for the admission price will be offered. 
• If a reserved swim is cancelled due to inclement weather after 20 minutes of use from the start time, no refunds will be given  
• If a public swim is cancelled due to a fouled pool, an account credit for the admission paid may be issued at the Supervisor's discretion.

If swim lessons are cancelled due to inclement weather, or a fouled pool, dry land lessons will be offered. 

We take the health and safety of our patrons and staff seriously. In keeping with current government regulations to stop the transmission and spread of germs, everyone attending the Stratford Lions Pool must strictly follow these instructions:

1. Do not attend the facility if you are unwell or sick. 
2. Help stop the spread of germs by washing your hands properly and frequently, cough into your sleeve, and sanitize your hands before entering and upon leaving the facility.
3. Maintain physical distancing of 2 metres apart (6 feet) from any staff or person not within your social bubble. 

It is highly recommended to make a reservation online for all eligible swim programs (lengths, water fitness, AquaPods), otherwise last minute admission into swims will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Reserve online now. 

1. Any admission taken at the front counter will be contactless and paid by debit or credit card only. No cash will be taken.
2. Upon entering the facility, patrons will be asked to sanitize hands. 
3. Although not mandatory, wearing face coverings when indoors at the facility is highly recommended. The City of Stratford does not provide face coverings.
4. Change rooms and single showers will be made available however, it is preferred that patrons arrive already showered and changed for swimming.
5. As personal belongings cannot be stored by staff while swimming, patrons will be required to take their items onto the pool deck. Supervision of personal belongings is the sole responsibility of each patron, and the City of Stratford will not be held responsible for lost or stolen items. 
6. Washrooms will be made available to patrons, however only 1 person at a time may access the washroom areas inside the change rooms. 
7. Please respect physical distancing when engaging with staff and/or with patrons not in personal social bubbles.

Children under the age of 8 can participate in public swims if they meet one of the two following conditions:

1. They are supervised by a responsible person 12 years of age or older.  The responsible person must be in the water and remain within arms reach of their child.  This responsible person may not supervise more than 2 swimmers at any time.
2. The child can pass the Swimming Competency Test.  The competency test is for children under the age of 8 who wish to swim without direct supervision.

Should you be short in having a responsible person to help supervise more than 2 children, consider inviting a friend to help assist, or have your children take turns in and out of the pool. 

Finally, we support with pride all persons of varying abilities. Should a patron having an exceptional ability wishes to attend a swim and requries a support person (whether the support is requried on deck or in the water), we are happy to admit the support person free of charge. 

Patron admittance reviews and final decisions are at the sole discretion of the Supervisor on Duty. 

The swimming competency test is for children under the age of 8 who wish to swim without direct supervision, The following requirements must be passed to the Instructor/Guard's standards:

1. Two widths of the Lions Pool where the child can touch.
2. Recognizable front crawl with face in.
3. Treading water for 20 seconds in the middle of each width.
4. A general comfort with the water.

The swimming competency test can also be administered to swimmers wishing to enter the deep end of the pool who are older than 8 years of age.  All Instructor/Guards are able to administer the test. The swimming competency test is the only test available to evaluate a patron's strength, endurance and level of comfort in the water.  Children who pass the test may have access to the entire pool. 

The Instructor/Guard's have the authority to send the child back to the shallow end for their safety, if he/she becomes weak/tired. Only one test per participant, per day will be administered.