Great facility, great staff. The place has been run responsibly with a real commitment to safety throughout the COVID pandemic. This is a real jewel in the Duncan/North Cowichan area's crown! read more

The actual swimming pool is "okay". Nothing to write home about though considering it is barely 10 years old and has a poor design and lacked of any type of attractiveness or a single creative thought when it was built. Considering it was built in 2008 for some Indian Games event it was clearly rushed. The facility looks aged beyond its years, a 60's style pool with stained tile floors that give the impression of uncleanliness and filth. There was no foresight whatsoever for spectators which is really unforgivable since it was made to host some Indian event. 10 years later a handful of individual chairs line one wall for spectators. A total fail! This, however, must be expected in a town appropriately called Drunken Duncan by even its own residents. The lifeguards and Instructor staff is equally sub-par with many inapptopriatly showing off gaudy and awful looking gang tattoos which is on par with "The City Of Totems" reputation. Full sleeve tattoos, neck tattoos, tramp stamps, and horrid looking leg tattoos are the norm for the pool staff. Certainly not appropriate for young children and especially not for swimming instructors teaching young children, yet it flourishes at this tax payer funded facility. If you have children, and especially young boys, you definitely do not want to be going into the men's change room on most days. I thought it was me, but after doing some research I see that there have been numerous complaints over the years of old men, lingering completely naked for excessive amount of time in the male change room on a regular basis. I have witnessed this myself on numerous occasions, and it appears that this happens on purpose, frequently, and I can imagine for no other purpose other than to satisfy some sick pedophilia condition. The staff are well aware of this, there have been news stories written about it, yet it continues unabated. So if you have young male children, please be aware of this before bringing them into the Men's Change Room and certainly don't allow them to go in there by themselves. I found it shockingly disgusting that this very issue has been brought to the city of Duncan and the Pool Administrators on several times, with several articles being posted in local newspapers about it, and yet all that has ever been done is the City comes oit in support for these creepers and says that it's normal for people to be naked while changing into or out of swimwear. But that is not what the issue is. It's elderly, creepy, pedophile looking men that are fully naked and remain naked while watching young children get dressed and undressed. It is totally inappropriate and wrong. Yet the City of Duncan nor the staff at the Aquatic Center will do a thing about it. So just be forewarned about this and make your own decision. If you choose to use the men's change room on a regular basis, you will understand completely what I'm talking about in short order. Finally, in true Drunken Duncan Style, the city has put up a number of No Parking signs directly in front of the main entrance to the Aquatic Center. Signs that they erected, but have never had any interest in enforcing. Despite this, on any given day, at any given time, there are numerous vehicles parked directly under these signs in willful non-compliance. Pool staff have been made aware of it numerous times and they just shrug their shoulders saying there's nothing they can do about it. In fact, even City of Duncan vehicles park in contravention to their own signs that they have erected, because the rules just don't apply to them of course! Or anyone else it seems for that matter! And while speaking of parking, be very careful that you do not leave any valuables inside your vehicles that are visible. At most times, and especially in the evenings, there are gangs of unsavory looking teenagers that congregate, skateboard, despite signs to the contrary, and are generally just looking for trouble and looking for something to steal I'm sure. There is no Security there, I've never seen the police patrol the area, and it's no wonder that a 10 year old brand new swimming facility looks like it's on its last legs and appears to have been in operation for 60 years. However, I keep having to remind myself that this is Duncan after all! Who could possibly be surprised? read more

Cowichan Aquatic Centre - Even the City of Duncan staff cannot follow their own rules or laws. So why would anyone else? - Recreation Centers Near Me - Duncan, British Columbia

Gladys P. I read your review of the Aquatic Centre and I must say that it is, to say the least, a shocking misrepresentation of the facility. Your over generalization of the people and the place is very disappointing. I am surprised your racist, sexist, shamefully hurtful comments actually made it onto yelp. The plaque in lobby indicates that it won an award for its design and it has many design features that make it a pleasant place to visit: trees, specialty lighting, "rocks", and murals to name some on the pool deck. Stained tiles? I attend the centre regularly and have never seen stains on the floor. Sometimes the change room floor has mud on it because patrons do not wipe their feet on the way in but the pool staff regularly check/clean the change rooms. Check the cleaning schedule on the door on your way out. A handful of chairs for spectators? You missed the three sets of bleacher that are set up along another wall. Your observation skills are a "total fail". Some Indian event??? I think it is your attitude that is a problem. Yes, the North American Indigenous Games did take place in the Aquatic Centre when it was opened. To use an old, and demeaning word to refer to the first nations peoples of the area is disrespectful and hurtful. Even if residents refer to the Cowichan Valley as "Drunken Duncan", it is no excuse for you to use this phrase in the way that you have and only adds to the thoughtless, shameful review you left. My anger at your comments increased as I read your second paragraph. You appear to have appointed yourself the moral police for the community and your disgust of tattoos is very clear. I have noticed that some of the clients that attend the pool also have tattoos. Your personal opinion on someones appearance do not belong in a review, especially since it it a gross exaggeration of the facts. Luckily, not everyone shares your opinion. Gladys P. appears to be a female name. What are you doing in the men's change room? I think you are using this platform to express your rather sad and warped opinions of men. It is further clear that you have dangerous ageist issue that you need to deal with. In my opinion, you are taking a single letter to the paper and using it to your own ends of body shaming. There is no need to dwell on this "issue" as you did. The first change room you come to as you walk down the hall is the Family Change Room. Use that one and you can hide your dislike of the human body and you can also avoid all those who are "elderly, creepy, pedophile looking". Old men don't stand a chance! Imagine, an old man, in a men's change room, being observed by younger clients. Hmm. I wonder who has the problem. I have seen the no parking signs and I have seen cars parked there. I, too, have used that area to drop something off or pick up a forgotten article. City of Duncan vehicles (?) parking on North Cowichan property! Heaven forbid. You need to get a life. Further, I use the facility in the morning and I have often, yes, often seen police vehicles parked and cruising the area. I lock my car and have never had a problem in the lot. Those "unsavory looking teenagers that congregate, skateboard ... are generally just looking for something to steal I'm sure" live in this town and are using the skate park. Again, your statement is a gross exaggeration and a clear indication of intolerance on your part. The facility and the staff at the Cowichan Aquatic Centre are first rate. I have to keep reminding myself that this is Duncan after all! Who could possibly be surprised that there are racist, sexist, body shaming bigots here trying to spread their hatred to others. People, please remember to take things you find on the internet at face value and if your are concerned, check things out for yourself. read more

We have been coming to this pool since our children were born. The open swim time is really fun because it has a "lazy river", wave machine, and two really long and fun water slides. There is a large hot tub, sauna and steam room, also. There is a really large family change room, as well as men's and women's rooms. Upstairs there is a large gym with weights, tread mills, etc... that looks on to the pool. And it is really well-priced entertainment for the family. There is an abundance of life guards around. If you're looking for swimming exercise, there is a 25 meter length lap pool that is used for competitions. I only give 4 stars because the changing rooms can be hit or miss. read more

Well isn't Gladys P a little ray of sunshine hating on everyone there with her veiled racism and ageism ... it's a well known fact that 100% of teenagers are up to no good and everyone with a tattoo is an evil gang person!!! As you seem so contemptuous of Duncan I'm sure we would be delighted for you to stay away. Actually, everyone should know, the Aquatic Centre is a great place, excellent pool facilties for a small town, as well as dry side gym and fitness offerings. I really appreciate having such a good facility nearby, especially after experiencing living in places with no pool whatsoever. I also think it's incredibly well priced and reasonable. The staff are friendly and helpful. They support a lot of kids' and adults' healthy activities and community events. read more

I've been to the "Duncan Pool" many times with my best friend. It is a large space with a high ceiling and two pool areas and a walkway in between. One side is swimming lanes and the other is a family-oriented fun area. The artwork of trees is very attractive! I have spent most of the time in the fun area, which contains sprinklers and sprays that are periodically turned on, and there is also a wave machine. There are two long slides: a large bright red tunnel and a small dark blue tunnel, and these are always a pleasure to enjoy! The hot tub/whirlpool is large and not too hot, and there are also sauna and steam rooms, which are also not too hot, unlike at some other pools I have visited. There is a wonderful, large "water track" that pushes people along in a loop using powerful jets: this can be easily enjoyed for a long period of time with a friend, especially with the help of a noodle or two! I have enjoyed aquatic fitness classes in the shallower water of the family fun area by a very skilled instructor. The family area is perfect for fitness classes, neither too deep nor too shallow, and the loudspeakers and acoustics of the pool are pretty good for the music that is played during fitness classes. I would like more access to the diving boards in the swimming lanes area; I think the diving boards are closed too often. Also, the temperature of the showers is fixed, and is not always set right. The locks on some of the doors in the family change room need to be fixed. But on the whole, the Cowichan Aquatic Centre is something to look forward to experiencing every few weeks. I have experienced significant healing from being in the water of that pool! I like to spend about 90 minutes there. It is definitely the most enjoyable pool that I have visited in the lower Vancouver Island region! :-) read more

This place and staff are totally incompetent. On the weekend the hot tub was so fealthy and dirty. The dirt was covering the and floating several square feet. When I asked the person in charge she said they have a filtering problem and it's not working. That means it is Not legal to keep the hot tub open. Must be shut down. Hit tub with no filtering system working is a shut down but it got ignored. I left. The hit tub is the most fealthy tub in the place that requires more maintenance than main pool. People piss in it and due to people density vrs gallons of water by it requires strickt maintenance. This was disgusting and I have filed a complaint with regional district and provincial health inspector read more