As repairs to the South Oshawa Community Centre pool continue to be delayed, Ward 5 and Regional Councillor Brian Nicholson acknowledged growing community concern about the project.

The prolonged closure has displaced swimming lessons, public swims, and user groups, with programs relocated to other municipal pools where possible.

In a Facebook update, Nicholson says the prolonged closure has become “the greatest frustration” of the current term of Oshawa City Council. He added that it was not anticipated the work would take this long after a sinkhole was discovered beneath the facility in 2024.

“We all want our pool open as quickly as possible,” Nicholson wrote. “I recognize that everyone is unhappy with the long time it is taking. I share that unhappiness.”

The pool has been closed since September 2024, when a routine inspection uncovered structural issues related to a sinkhole. Further engineering investigations revealed additional deficiencies, expanding what was initially expected to be a repair project into a major reconstruction.

Oshawa City Council originally approved up to $5.85 million for the reconstruction of the pool and fire suppression upgrades in January 2025. As construction progressed, additional structural issues, drainage improvements, and other unforeseen work increased the project’s cost to more than $8 million.

The latest project update, released in July 2026, states that work has advanced to concrete repairs, drainage installation, tile work, and the completion of the new fire suppression access system. Testing and commissioning will still be required before the pool can reopen. Officials say the goal remains reopening “as soon as possible,” but no timeline has been announced.