The Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex Swimplex has been closed indefinitely after a construction accident damaged the pool.
On Thursday night, the platform below a boom lift being used by a contracting company to retrofit lights reportedly collapsed, sending the heavy equipment into the pool.
The two male workers operating the boom suffered only minor injuries, but the Ministry of Labour is investigating the accident.
The City of Waterloo says it is closing the facility for safety reasons so the damage to the pool and slide can be assessed and repaired.
Lois Amos-Herter, operations manager at the Waterloo Recreation Complex, says "The area is being assessed at the present time, and until we get the genie boom out of the pool and are able to do a further assessment of the pool, we're not sure when we'll be able to open"
The New Year's Eve swims have been cancelled. A date for the re-opening of the pool is expected to be announced in the next few days.
This isn't the first time the pool has been closed this year. It was shut down for ten weeks over the summer for upgrades, and four days last week for the retrofitting.
Henry Zhou had been hoping to use the pool, he says "We can't swim and this is supposed to be the best time of the year. We really want to enjoy the time right now and have a little fun time in there, but just a little bit disappointed."
Staff say that about 300 people use the pool on an average weekday, but that number jumps to over 500 during the holiday season.
Those who were turned away were given free passes to use when the pool reopens.
