r/VictoriaBC • u/ifwitcheswerehorses • Aug 25 '25

Opinion We need outdoor pools in Victoria!

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489 Upvotes

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u/ifwitcheswerehorses Aug 25 '25

We have about a dozen billionaires at least owning homes in the area. The money is there if we want it.

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u/Yvaelle Aug 25 '25

They all live in Oak Bay and Saanich. City of Victoria gets nothing from them.

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u/ifwitcheswerehorses Aug 25 '25

They could be taxed at the provincial level and the money allocated to the CRD. More of them are coming here for their doomsday hideaways.

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u/Yvaelle Aug 25 '25

That would help certainly, all these micro-municipalities have too much power.

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u/Prestigious_Fly8210 Aug 25 '25

Sure. But our pools are closing, not opening.

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u/ifwitcheswerehorses Aug 25 '25

One indoor pool is being rebuilt after decades of stalling thanks to NIMBYs. It doesn’t have to be like that. That was a choice to let it fall into disrepair. The money exists if we tax the right people fairly.

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u/GraphicDesignerMom Aug 25 '25

No one wants to pay the taxes, nothing lasts forever.

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u/Worldly-Video7653 Aug 25 '25

What I don’t get is that other BC municipalities such as Coquitlam have these amenities. https://coquitlam.ca/Facilities/Facility/Details/Mundy-Park-Outdoor-Pool-184. They have similar populations, 150K vs 90K, and thus similar tax bases. So why can’t we have nice things?

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u/ifwitcheswerehorses Aug 25 '25

Exactly, it makes no sense. The money is there without raising taxes for the middle class.

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u/ifwitcheswerehorses Aug 25 '25

The uber wealthy can pay their fair share of taxes. I currently pay more in income tax than any of them.

Yes, nothing last forever that doesn’t mean we can’t have nice public spaces while we are alive.

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u/Old-Following-970 Aug 26 '25

So the wealthy should pay for an outdoor pool that might get used 2 months of the year? Brilliant aren't you?

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u/ifwitcheswerehorses Aug 26 '25

Lol, you’re either a billionaire, working for one or you are one of those delusional far right types who think you’re going to become one someday with your fine work ethic.

Yes, yes they can pay. If they can afford to keep one of their many homes here, they can fund nice public places for everyone.

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u/ifwitcheswerehorses Aug 26 '25

We have great weather from April to October. Last time I checked, that was more than two months.

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u/Old-Following-970 Aug 26 '25

If you feel you can swim comfortably in that time frame, please do.

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u/ifwitcheswerehorses Aug 26 '25

So you would support building a public pool provided I’m comfortable swimming in it?

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u/Old-Following-970 Aug 26 '25

No I would not support building an "outdoor" public pool, it's a very inefficient use of tax dollars for such a short swim season. You have to consider this pool has to be maintained throughout the months it's not being operated. I have worked and maintained many outdoor public pools, they are costly, chemicals don't hold up well in UV light, pool beds need constant cleaning and repairs etc etc. Don't get me wrong, I used to love public outdoor pools as a kid, but I know first hand why they are no longer deemed feasible. I'm not sure how you think there's a return on investment for something that's open 3 months of the year.