Fritz Sick Pool open again

By Lethbridge Herald on June 18, 2025.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After seven months of renovation work, the Fritz Sick pool at the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO) finally reopened on June 16 to the delight of both patrons and staff. 

Since closing on Nov. 1, Lethbridge’s oldest swimming pool has undergone significant accessibility upgrades with features like barrier-free showers and wider access points and ergonomic upgrades to staff work areas.

“We’ve had a lot of changes to the front entryway which has been fantastic for our staff, says Sunny Belle, General Manager of Recreation Excellence. “They have ergonomically-correct desks to work at, and it’s aesthetically beautiful. The change rooms have more accessibility [in the] showers, toilet stalls and space for the people who are using them.”

Before the renovations began, the estimated budget for the upgrades was $900,000, with funding coming from the Facility Assessment and Accessibility Upgrades and City Lifecycle budgets. The final all-in cost was $1,005,308.

Belle says the renovations were necessary to fix and upgrade the change rooms to accommodate the pool’s regular users and extend its lifespan. The original re-opening of the pool was targeted for early spring, but additional items were discovered during the renovations that needed fixing. 

“We’ve had lots of our regular patrons return,” says Belle. “We’ve had great comments. People are really glad to be back. Guest-wise, the change-rooms are huge for them because they offer more places to shower; there’s more washrooms available to use, so it’s eliminated a lot of congestion in the change room…getting people through faster. The all accessibility change room is a huge hit as well because we have a few people who enjoy using the facility who are actually in a wheelchair. They’re able to get out onto the pool deck a lot easier.”

Fritz Sick Pool is Lethbridge’s oldest swimming facility, opened as an outdoor pool in 1949 and later enclosed in 1965, becoming the city’s first year-round public pool. It was initially a memorial to Fritz Sick, with the surrounding Lethbridge Sports Centre also serving as a memorial to soldiers who died in World War II.

While it once hosted major aquatic competitions, the pool now focuses on swimming lessons, open swims, aqua-fit and senior programs, with some programming transitioned to other pools during its closure for renovations. These programs are especially important to members of the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization.

“We’re so excited that the pool is open,” says LSCO executive director Kaitlyn Weaver. “Having a pool connected to the LSCO is so great because it offers our members another option to stay fit and be well. It’s such a great resource and I know so many people are excited that it’s reopening.”

The pool is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and closed on weekends.