Opened in 1940 with Art Deco lines and civic pride to match, Verdun’s Natatorium was once the largest outdoor pool in Canada—hosting up to 70,000 swimmers each summer. It’s still a summertime fixture on the banks of the St. Lawrence, even as the original pavilion sits shuttered and propped up by support beams. The pool itself remains in use, with lap swimming in the shallow end and a heated wading pool for kids, while the iconic—but structurally unsalvageable—bathehouse is now slated for demolition and eventual reconstruction. Years of concrete deterioration, asbestos, and unstable soil finally forced the city’s hand, despite local opposition to losing a heritage building. What comes next? A new facility that aims to honour the past without crumbling under it—complete with rooftop access, green space connections, and that same view of the river that’s anchored generations of Verdun summers.
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The best indoor and outdoor pools in Montreal
Here’s where Montrealers actually go to cool off when the city starts to sweat: No hotel key cards, no rooftop DJs, just solid public swimming options.
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