Beaconsfield pool makes a splash with new accessibility upgrages

The Beacon Hill pool in Beaconsfield, Quebec, a community staple since 1967, has introduced a series of accessibility upgrades to better serve residents with reduced mobility. The nearly $100,000 investment aims to remove barriers and foster a more inclusive environment for all.

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There are times when you wake up and your back is locked up with sciatica, a hernia, whatever, and it’s a lot more difficult to move around. I’ve had seasons where I missed the whole summer because of back problems.

Key improvements include the installation of ramps, the adaptation of washrooms, and the addition of a pool lift. These features are designed to ensure a safe and comfortable swimming experience for individuals facing functional limitations. Previously, challenges such as back problems or other mobility issues could prevent residents from enjoying the pool during the summer season.

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This was really an exercise in, if you build it, they will come. We had a few members say, ‘Why did we spend all this money and effort on ramps, washrooms, lift,’ and it’s because we [currently] have no members who are mobility-reduced.

The funding for these upgrades came from a combination of federal government grants and contributions from the City of Beaconsfield. Dave Whipps, president of Beacon Hill Pool, expressed his optimism about the project, stating, "if you build it, they will come." He noted that while some initially questioned the expense without current visibly mobility-reduced members, the goal was to proactively create an accessible space.

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It’s a wonderful community-driven initiative that’s in line with what the city wants to do, which is to make facilities inclusive and accessible.

Beaconsfield Mayor Martin St-Jean lauded the initiative as a "community-driven" effort that aligns with the city's objective to make facilities accessible and inclusive. Residents like Gilles Chalifour, who has experienced mobility challenges, hope that this concept will be extended to other pools throughout Beaconsfield and the wider West Island area, emphasizing the profound difference such changes can make.

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I hope that they take this concept and extend it to all the pools in Beaconsfield, in fact, all the pools in the West Island.