Peter L. Smith
Local Journalism Initiative

PEMBROKE – The Kinsmen Pool on Herbert Street is scheduled to reopen Wednesday, January 15, with users eager to dive back in. However, the reopening is still subject to approval from the Health Unit and the Ministry of Labour. Learn to Swim programs will resume Monday, January 20.

The pool has been closed since January 5, 2024, for extensive renovations costing $1.4 million. Renovations included replacing the windows and roof of the existing Butler Building. Funding partners include the City of Pembroke and Laurentian Valley Township, which moved to contribute up to 30% of the net cost, to a maximum of $420,000.

Since the closure, the Friends of the Pool have raised $110,000 through fundraising efforts, including a raffle. Tickets, priced at $20 each, can be purchased at Blok Pools, OK Tire, and Sunset Nursery. The committee is also hosting a trivia night on January 25 at the Pembroke Curling Centre, located beside the pool.

The 25-metre, six-lane pool, built in the early ’60s, offers a variety of year-round swimming programs, including Learn to Swim, aquatics, ladies-only sessions, and lifeguard and leadership courses. These programs are available to all ages and skill levels. The pool also offers rentals, public swims, and lane swims. In addition, it features an outdoor wading pool and is located next to a park.

Pembroke Mayor Ron Gervais said, “We are excited to finalize the pool project and see patrons enjoy this wonderful community asset again.”

Photo caption: The Kinsmen Pool, scheduled to reopen Jan. 15. (City of Pembroke)