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In Pictures: a sunny day at Kitsilano Pool

By Jenni Baynam /

The Park Board may be working on a new 25-year aquatic centre plan, but Kitsilano Pool still rules on a hot weekend.

Since 1931, Kitsilano Pool (or, more commonly, just Kits Pool) has been a mainstay for family-friendly Vancouver summer fun. And 2016 has been no different, so Van Mag stopped by the iconic swimming spot on a busy summer afternoon to check out the poolside scene. Check out the photos below.Austin’s mom lives 10 minutes up the hill from Kits Pool, so you’ll find him and his fashion-forward hairstyle there most Saturday afternoons. “The haircut is all him,” says Austin’s mom, Carolyn Knox. “He’s had the same barber since he was little, and he dictates his own style.” Austin’s mom lives 10 minutes up the hill from Kits Pool, so you’ll find him and his fashion-forward hairstyle there most Saturday afternoons. “The haircut is all him,” says Austin’s mom, Carolyn Knox. “He’s had the same barber since he was little, and he dictates his own style.” Sari Raber and Cory Milne are testing out their ability to swim 750 metres as they consider a joint sprint triathlon. The couple met on a ferry last year: “We met at the soft- serve ice cream machine because we were both trying to fill the smallest cup as high as it would go,” says Sari. “We’ve been competing (for fun) ever since.” Sari Raber and Cory Milne are testing out their ability to swim 750 metres as they consider a joint sprint triathlon. The couple met on a ferry last year: “We met at the soft-serve ice cream machine because we were both trying to fill the smallest cup as high as it would go,” says Sari. “We’ve been competing (for fun) ever since.”  Parker decided to use his first visit to Kits Pool as the perfect opportunity to learn to swim by jumping in at the deep end, literally. “We biked all the way here from Coal Harbour,” says Parker’s aunt, Ashlee, who has just moved to Vancouver after spending eight years as a dentist in the military. “That’s quite a long way for a little kid.” Parker decided to use his first visit to Kits Pool as the perfect opportunity to learn to swim by jumping in at the deep end, literally. “We biked all the way here from Coal Harbour,” says Parker’s aunt, Ashlee, who has just moved to Vancouver after spending eight years as a dentist in the military. “That’s quite a long way for a little kid.” “My wife doesn’t come down to the pool—she’s more of a shopping person than a swimming person,” says Don Finn, here visiting Vancouver from his hometown of Regina. “But she keeps an eye on me from the roof deck of her daughter’s apartment. I give her a little wave every now and then.” “My wife doesn’t come down to the pool—she’s more of a shopping person than a swimming person,” says Don Finn, here visiting Vancouver from his hometown of Regina. “But she keeps an eye on me from the roof deck of her daughter’s apartment. I give her a little wave every now and then.” “We moved to Edmonton from Ethiopia five years ago,” says mom Hanna (not pictured), “so both boys were born here in Canada.” When Ragi (age 3) wasn’t splashing about with his little brother, Wabi (age 2), he was doing push-ups by the side of the pool. “We moved to Edmonton from Ethiopia five years ago,” says mom Hanna (not pictured), “so both boys were born here in Canada.” When Ragi (age 3) wasn’t splashing about with his little brother, Wabi (age 2), he was doing push-ups by the side of the pool. “Some of the other pools have rules that are a bit on the strict side,” says Ali Singh (far right), who comes here from Main Street to play volleyball in the shallow end. “Plus, when we come here we go to Local afterwards for nachos and a Caesar—not the kid, obviously.” “Some of the other pools have rules that are a bit on the strict side,” says Ali Singh (far right), who comes here from Main Street to play volleyball in the shallow end. “Plus, when we come here we go to Local afterwards for nachos and a Caesar—not the kid, obviously.”  After 30 years of lifeguarding, Craig has seen it all. “I witnessed a situation today where a dad caught his daughter coming off the slide. That’s the kind of thing that can turn dangerous pretty quickly.” After 30 years of lifeguarding, Craig has seen it all. “I witnessed a situation today where a dad caught his daughter coming off the slide. That’s the kind of thing that can turn dangerous pretty quickly.” Twenty-somethings Jennie and Joe set up camp on the concrete to avoid the groups of kids playing on the grassy bank on the east side. Twenty-somethings Jennie and Joe set up camp on the concrete to avoid the groups of kids playing on the grassy bank on the east side. If paddleball were a competitive sport, Kevin (left) and Aaron would make the official Kits Pool team. “I’ve been coming here since I was nine years old,” says Kevin. “Now, as soon as the sun’s out, one of our friend group will send a text around just saying: ‘Pool?’” If paddleball were a competitive sport, Kevin (left) and Aaron would make the official Kits Pool team. “I’ve been coming here since I was nine years old,” says Kevin. “Now, as soon as the sun’s out, one of our friend groups will send a text around just saying: ‘Pool?’”