Bernhard “Bernie” Gall’s 46-year career in the pool industry began when he joined Gall Construction, his parents’ concrete business in Kitchener, Ont., in 1980.

The CEO of Acapulco Pools had a leadership style that was defined by a commitment to excellence, integrity, and doing things the right way.

He championed rigorous standards, attention to detail, and a disciplined approach to every project. He always followed through on promises, built relationships based on mutual respect and trust, and ensured clients were satisfied with the work delivered.

To meet the rising demand for cast-in-place concrete swimming pools, primarily building residential pools, he set up Acapulco Pools in 1974.

Under his leadership since 1987, Acapulco Pools began building Class A municipal pools, started a long-term collaboration with MJMA, a Toronto-based architectural firm, expanded operations into the United States, installed aquatic centres at 25-plus Life Time Fitness locations, and played a major role in bringing Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada to life by installing the circulation, sanitation, and filtration systems for the animal life support systems.

In 2016, Gall’s daughter, Francine Gall, bought the company and resumed ownership. However, Bernie remained heavily involved as CEO and project consultant.

In October 2024, Acapulco Pools celebrated its 50th anniversary at Ripley’s Aquarium, where nearly 300 industry partners, suppliers, clients and employees joined in the celebrations.

“My father was truly one of a kind. He had a dynamic, charismatic energy and an ability to operate at a pace that often felt superhuman. But what defined him most was how deeply he cared about the people he worked with, the knowledge he shared, and the responsibility he felt to build safe, enduring pools for communities to enjoy. It is an honour to carry that legacy forward at Acapulco Pools for generations to come,” says Francine Gall, president.

Bernie Gall passed away on January 31 due to a brief, devastating illness.