The Ruth Inch Memorial Pool’s swimming days will soon be done, but a potential site transformation could mean a new beginning.
The city of Yellowknife is planning a public consultation to potentially “repurpose” the site. Saxon Chung, corporate communications advisor for the city of Yellowknife, told True North FM the future use of the community pool is “still under consideration.”
The Ruth Inch Memorial Pool first opened its doors in 1988 and is scheduled to close its doors on April 14. However, Chung said the building has undergone several assessment phases and a Building Condition Assessment was completed in 2024.
“The first phase of the BCA reviewed the structural condition of the building and checked for the presence of hazardous building materials. The second phase of the BCA consisted of reviews of the architectural, mechanical, and electrical components of the RIMP,” said Chung.
The assessments showed that the Ruth Inch Memorial Pool is a “viable option for repurposing,” explained Chung.
The city plans to maintain the building until decisions are made about its future sometime in 2026.
“The City will continue with maintenance and care of the RIMP to ensure the integrity of the building until a decision has been made for its future use,” said Chung.
Funding has been set aside for the public to help guide the potential transformation of the site.
“The 2026 capital budget allocates $200,000 for the completion of a public consultation. This indicates that the future use of the RIMP is still under consideration. Costs associated with any repurposing will be considered as part of the City’s budgeting process,” explained Chung.
“The City will continue to update residents as it moves through this process,” added Chung.
