Aquatics

The City of Stratford owns and operates the Stratford Lions Pool from June until end of August each season. Our highly qualified Instructor/Guard staff provide a full range of swimming lessons and public swim programming, in a supervised and safe environment.

Address: 15 William Street
Direct Phone: 519-271-0757 (summer only)
Facility Functions: lessons, open swims, private rentals, change facilities, washrooms, accessible
General Hours of Operation: July to August, Monday to Friday, 7am - 8pm, Saturday and Sunday, 12 - 8pm
Check our closures and cancellations page for up-to-date information

August 24, 2021 - Pool set to close Saturday, September 4 for the season

The Stratford Lions Pool will close for the season on Saturday, September 4, 2021 at 4pm. View post-season schedule.

July 27, 2021 - Swims Lessons added, starting August 2

New classes have been added to the Lions Pool swim lesson schedule, for children 6 years of age and older, starting August 2. Red Cross Swim Kids 2-10 will be offered, as well as Lifesaving Society Bronze Star, Medallion and Cross.

Swim lessons will be offered in a session, defined as two consecutive weeks, running Monday through Friday.

To enroll, pre-register now.

All swim programs and courses offered by the Stratford Lions Pool will be presented consistent with current public health guidelines and in consultation with Huron Perth Public Health.

June 29, 2021 - New Swim Program dates to be added as of July 1

On Wednesday, June 30, the province enters Step Two of Ontario's Roadmap to Reopen. As of July 1st, a new batch of public swim program dates will be added to our online recreation registration, including new reservation dates for lengths, AquaPods, water fitness classes, family swims and open swims.

As participation in all programs requires pre-registration, season passes are not available this year.

June 14, 2021 - Stratford Lions Pool opens June 16

The Stratford Lions Pool will open June 16th, under Step 1 of Ontario’s Framework for Reopening. The public swim program will include reservable lengths, AquaPods, water fitness classes, family swims and open swims.

Online reservations for swimming started June 1 at our online recreation registration. As participation in all programs requires pre-registration, season passes are not available this year.

At this time, swim lessons for younger children are not being considered due to the complex nature of delivering face-to-face lessons in a physical environment that is deemed safe for both students and instructors.

All swim programs and courses offered by the Stratford Lions Pool will be presented consistent with current public health guidelines and in consultation with Huron Perth Public Health.

Become a Lifeguard or Instructor

Certification Path

Ever wondered how to become a Lifeguard/Instructor?

Find out more on the path to become a certified Lifeguard or Instructor.

Employment Opportunities

Our highly qualified Stratford Lions Pool Lifeguard and Instructor staff provide a full range of swimming lessons and public swim programming, in a supervised and safe environment.

Seasonally, we employ over 30 staff to operate the pool, in the following positions:

Pool Supervisor
Assistant Supervisor
Lifeguard/Instructor
Lifeguard-in-Training

View our position descriptions.

What would you like to do?

Browse all Swim Programs

Important Swim Admission Policies and Procedures

We have a few important swim policies and procedures you should know before arriving at the pool.

COVID-19 - Health, safety and what to expect using the Lions Pool facility?

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:

Do not attend the facility if you are unwell or sick.
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.
Maintain physical distancing of from any staff or person not within your social bubble.
Wear a face covering at all times when indoors.

It is highly recommended to make a reservation online for all eligible swim programs (lengths, water fitness, AquaPods). Reserve online.

Any admission taken at the front counter will be contactless and paid by debit or credit card only. No cash will be taken.
Upon entering the facility, patrons will be asked to sanitize hands.
Face coverings must be worn when indoors. The City of Stratford does not provide face coverings.
Change rooms and single showers will be made available however, it is preferred that patrons arrive already showered and changed for swimming.
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.
Washrooms will be made available to patrons, however only 1 person at a time may access the washroom areas inside the change rooms.
Please respect physical distancing when engaging with staff and/or with patrons not in personal social bubbles.

Cancelled Swims/Foul Pool/Poor Weather (new 2021)

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.

Family Swim Policy

Anyone under the age of 18 years wishing to swim during a Family Swim time must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Swim admittance policies apply.

Pool Closure Policy

In the event that no swimmers arrive within the first half-hour of the evening open swim, the pool will be closed until the next scheduled swim time.

Swim Admittance Abilities Policy

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

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.
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 requires a support person (whether the support is required 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.

Swimming Competency Test Policy

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:

Two widths of the Lions Pool where the child can touch.
Recognizable front crawl with face in.
Treading water for 20 seconds in the middle of each width.
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.