Lavington Outdoor Pool

On July 1st, the Provincial State of Emergency was lifted, and the province has now moved into Step 3 of the Province's 4-step Restart plan.  The Lavington Pool has made the following operational changes to align with the Province.

• There will no longer be designated entrance and exit points.  Guests can enter and exit from either gate.
• There will no longer be a check-in procedure or modified maximum capacity number at each facility.  Pool capacity will be determined by maximum bather load; the number of lifeguards available as per the Pool Safety Plan, and; heat stress procedures established to ensure staff take adequate breaks during hot weather.
• There will no longer be time limits for swimming, but if the pool is at capacity guards will encourage people who have been swimming for over an hour to take a break so that others can enjoy the facility.
• For swimming lessons, parent participation will still be required for all swim levels.  For staff who are not fully vaccinated, this will allow them to remain physically distant from the students until they feel safe allowing swimmers into their personal space.  Equipment can also be shared between students and instructor student rations will increase as space allows.

Here are some things to consider before you come, and during your visit:

• Do not come to the pool if you are sick or feel unwell.

• Everyone must have a cleansing shower before entering the pool area with soap and water.

• Do not spit or blow your nose in the water.

• Practice safe physical distancing between yourself and other households. 

• Pool users are encouraged to put on a mask when physical distancing cannot be maintained. However, face coverings are not permitted in the water.

• Do not bring valuables or extra belongings to the pool.  All pool users must leave their personal belongings outside the pool enclosure on the grass.  There are no lockers available.

• Washrooms/Changerooms are available during operational hours.  Pool users are required to respect occupancy limits and use the washroom facilities in a timely manner.

If you have any questions about our COVID-19 Safety Play, the pool schedule, or swim lessons please call 250-550-3670 or email aquaticleader@vernon.ca. 

Policies and procedures for the Lavington Pool have been developed to minimize the risk that COVID-19 poses to the health of its employees and to the public. It is imperative that all posted guidelines and directions from the lifeguards are followed at all times.  Lesson participants are expected to follow all COVID-19 facility modifications in addition to the ones below.

• Swimming lesson participants are encouraged to arrive no more than five (5) minutes before your swim class.  Come dressed ready to swim as changeroom access is limited.
• Swim Lessons have been modified to accommodate physical distancing recommendations. All swimmers require a parent/caregiver to participate in the water with their swimmer.

As of July 1's Step 3 of the BC Restart Plan, we will still require parent participation will still be required for all swim levels.  For staff who are not fully vaccinated, this will allow them to remain physically distant from the students until they feel safe allowing swimmers in their personal space.  Equipment can also be shared between students and instructor student ratios will increase as space allows.

There will no longer be a check-in procedure or modified maximum occupancy number at each facility.  Pool capacity will be determined by maximum bather load; the number of lifeguards available as per the Pool Safety Plan, and; heat stress procedures established to ensure staff take adequate breaks during hot weather.

There will no longer be a check-in procedure or modified maximum occupancy number at each facility. Pool capacity will be determined by maximum bather load; the number of lifeguards available as per the Pool Safety Plan, and; heat stress procedures established to ensure staff take adequate breaks during hot weather.

A swimmer can stay all day if they so choose.  If the pool is at capacity, lifeguards may approach guests who have swim for over an hour to take a break so others can enjoy the pool.

Yes, we are offering a variety of learn to swim programs.  You can view these programs here.

Spectators normally sit on the grass area outside the fence.  All park users are encouraged to practice safe physical distancing.

Following the recommendations from both the Canadian Red Cross and the BC Lifesaving Society, we have adapted our swimming lesson delivery for  COVID-19 protocols.  If you have any questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to call one of our Aquatic Leaders at aquaticleader@vernon.ca or 250-550-3670.

1. All participants, child and parent/caregiver, are required to answer a daily health assessment prior to the start of the lesson.  If you or your child are sick, you are to stay home and self-isolate up to 10 days until symptom free.
2. All families are required to fill out a COVID-19 waiver form prior to the first lesson.  This form is required to be filled out at the time of registration. 
3. Parent participation in the water is required to ensure the child is safe in the water.  It is highly recommended that... encouraged to bring your own personal equipment (ie. Goggles).  Equipment should are not to be shared with other swimmers.  The use of non-medical face coverings are encouraged when physical distancing cannot be met; however, any type of face covering is not allowed in the water due to the risk of asphyxia.
4. The facility will be providing individualized instructional equipment for use during your lesson.  These will be disinfected between uses.  Please ensure you only use the assigned equipment.
5. The instructors will be following the Red Cross Swim Preschool and Red Cross Swim Kids Progressions, and an evaluation of the swimmers progress will be provided at the end of the lesson set.  Each swimmer/parent pair may be at different abilities at the same time.  Be patient, work with your child, and have fun.  The more the parent/caregiver can participate and have fun in the water, the quicker your child will progress. 

All lessons at the Lavington Pool are parented.  Parent participation in the water is required to ensure the child is safe in the water.  It is highly recommended that they same parent/caregiver attend all the lessons to reduce the number of contacts at the facility.

We require each child registered to attend with one parent/caregiver.  If you have registered two children, you are required to have two parents/caregivers available and participating during the swim lesson.

Please contact the Recreation Centre 250-545-6035 (ext. 0) (be sure to include your child’s name and the swimming lessons they are in) to inform the aquatic staff as soon as you know  your child will not be attending a day of the lesson set due to sickness.

Please keep children at home if they are sick or any family members are sick. Those who have symptoms of a cold, flu, or with any coughing / sneezing, or family members within their household who are sick or self-isolating, will not be permitted to attend. 

The Health and Safety of our participants and staff is our number one priority. During this unprecedented time, if you can't attend lessons due to sickness of the child or a family member, we will withdraw your child from the lesson with a full refund. They will not be permitted to return to lessons for fourteen days, potentially affecting other lessons. Please give as much notice as possible if you need to withdraw your child so that we can plan our programs appropriately. Thank you for your cooperation on this matter.

Yes. The instructors will be following the Red Cross Swim Preschool and Red Cross Swim Kids Progressions, and an evaluation of the swimmer’s progress will be provided at the end of the lesson set.  Each swimmer/parent pair progress at a different pace.  Be patient, work with your child, and have fun.  The more the parent/caregiver can participate and have fun in the water, the quicker your child will progress.

If you don't have a credit card for the online registration process, the Recreation Center is currently open seven (7) days a week for in-person registration.

If your child has previously taken swimming lessons, please refer to your last progress card.  It will tell you what level your child should be registered into next.  If you haven't taken lessons before, or can't find your old progress card, please call the Recreation Clerks at the front desk at 250-545-6035 ext. 0 to set up a free swim assessment with one of our friendly lifeguards.

If your child is 3 years and older, we request that you don't register your child solely based on age as they may end up in a level beyond their ability in the pool.  Starfish, Duck and Sea Turtle are still age-based.

We do not currently offer private lessons at the Lavington Pool.  We have a Private Lesson Interest List at the Vernon Aquatic Center available each season.  Participants on the list will be called when private lesson time slots become available.