The Toronto District Public School Board has decided to not close any swimming pools just yet.
The board reached a decision Wednesday night that would see its 13 most profitable pools kept open and give another 26 two more months to find funding.
Staff had recommended the closure of seven pools on the basis that they were the most expensive to maintain:
- Bickford Centre
- Bloor Collegiate Institute
- Central Commerce Collegiate
- Danforth Collegiate and Tech. Institute
- Oakwood Collegiate Institute
- Parkdale Collegiate Institute
- Western Technical
They have been added to a list of 19 pools that are awaiting further funding:
- Carleton Village
- Central Tech
- Downsview
- Earl Grey
- Fern Avenue
- Forest Hill
- George Harvey
- George S. Henry
- Humberside
- Jarvis
- Kensington Community School
- Malvern
- Monarch Park
- North Toronto
- Queen Alexandra
- Rosedale Heights
- W.A. Porter
- Western Tech
- Winona/McMurrich.
Here are the 13 that are definitely safe:
- Allenby
- A.Y. Jackson
- Deer Park
- Glenview
- Harbord
- Keele Street
- Lawrence Park
- Newtonbrook
- Northern
- R.H. King
- Riverdale
- Stephen Leacock
- Westview Centennial
In April 2008, the TDSB had announced plans to close the 39 pools by June 2009, saying it no longer had the funds to either fix or operate them.
The provincial health promotion ministry came to the rescue, providing funding through to June 2009.
Former Toronto mayor David Crombie was asked to look into the issue of how the pools could be funded.
"As of April 2009, no long-term solutions for funding have yet been identified," said a fact sheet released by the board on Monday.
Wednesday's move comes one day after Premier Dalton McGuinty said the province would provide the capital funding to keep the pools open.
But he said it would be up to the board, the city and the private sector to provide the money to actually operate them.
"This funding from the province is a key first step in making the pools located in TDSB schools financially sustainable," board chair John Campbell said in a news release issued Wedneday.
"... We are also seeking to engage with stakeholders on a new governance structure for the operation and maintenance of these pools. These are community resources and the funding, support and responsibility for these pools must come from the broader community."
Crombie said the city has been asked to make a contributon.
However, Mayor David Miller said the city already assisting by paying for the day use of 33 other pools.
The city only operates 30 pools on its own.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Galit Solomon
