The Scene at the Piscine

Right now we can barely remember what it’s like when it gets hot in this city, but when it does you and the kids will no doubt be looking for somewhere to cool off.

It’s no secret that the City of Ottawa runs dozens of wading pools at parks across the city, open six days a week until August 20. These are staffed by lifeguards who also run recreational programs, like crafts, games, special events and theme days. For your slightly older kids, this is almost like free babysitting with a pool thrown in.

What you might not know is that most of these pools also offer free swimming lessons to young beginners through the city’s Waterplay Program. Ask staff at your local park for more details.

Lots of families who live centrally swear by the Lansdowne wading pool. With its proximity to Bank Street shops, it’s easy to pick up your iced coffee or picnic supplies and keep strolling until you reach the park.

If you are looking for somewhere a bit less busy, some SavvyMoms prefer Windsor (in Old Ottawa South) or Brantwood (Ottawa East) pools for their smaller crowds and scenic settings along the Rideau River. With their numerous trees for shade, expanses of grass to stretch out on, varieties of play structures nearby and of course, those river views, these two pools get our vote.

In both cases, bring nets and buckets for frog catching by the riverbanks, and bread for feeding the ducks. See if you can spot the spectacular royal swans: there is a pair who seem to prefer the stretch of the Rideau just south of Brantwood Park.

For bigger kids (or the kid in you), there are plenty of larger, public outdoor pools in Ottawa. If you live in the west end of town, you’ve got lots of options (at least half a dozen). The east end has two and downtown Ottawa has the RA Centre.

Located on Riverside Drive just west of Billings Bridge, the RA Centre has two large, heated pools side by side—a shallower one and an L-shaped, deeper one with a diving board. They’re both open to the public for a small fee. During most of the season, these pools are well-used by RA Centre summer camps, so prepare for large batches of energetic campers to descend on the pool occasionally. All things considered, however, this is a small price to pay for a downtown dip in an attractive pool.

If you go, bring a stocked bag of snacks and some water bottles, because there isn’t much for sale poolside. On the other hand, there is the Fieldhouse Bar & Grill onsite, a great post-swim dinner spot if you want to make an evening of it.

If chlorine is not your thing, Ottawa is also lucky to have an assortment of clean, attractive beaches nearby. Last year we wrote about the ones on the Ontario side, but don’t forget about the Québec beaches. There are two small but quite appealing ones at Meech Lake, just 20–30 minutes from downtown Ottawa. Lac Philippe, about 45 minutes away, is a perennial favorite, with two large, sandy beaches, a canteen, barbecues, and plenty of room to throw a Frisbee around. If you seek more seclusion and you’re up for the drive (just over an hour), try Lac La Pêche. At all of these beaches, supervised hours are 10 am to 6 pm and the season runs right to September 7. Entry is $9 per car ($60 for a season’s pass). At Lac Philippe and Lac La Pêche you can also rent canoes and kayaks.

What are you waiting for? Jump right in!

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