Markham Swimmers Seek Return to Competitive Training

Reopen Markham Pan Am Centre POOL

We are seeking to reopen Markham Pan Am Centre (MPAC) Pool for competitive swim training. We are a group of highly competitive swimmers who have trained at MPAC for many years to excel in our sport. Our team includes Olympic hopefuls, 4 of which have been on National teams including 2 swimmers ranked top 25 in the world and Pan Am Champion. The stress and sacrifice of the extended Covid-19 lockdown at MPAC is extremely debilitating on our physical and mental health. Now that Markham has moved into the Province of Ontario Red Zone, we believe the pool should be reopened and we should be permitted to safely return to training. To see Markham big box stores and shopping malls opening, yet we do not have access to our training pool is disheartening. The added value of sport for Markham’s youth needs to be considered. Furthermore, many of us in Markham are eyeing university scholarships as well as Provincial and National representation. We will not be on a level with our peers or be able to compete unless we can return to pool training quickly.

Markham Aquatic Club created and implemented a safe return to training plan

From July to December 2020, when MPAC was opened with protocols in place, our club, Markham Aquatic Club (MAC) led our safe return to our training and we adhered to the strict measures to manage a safe return.  We entered MPAC wearing masks and social distanced, we adhered to lane restrictions, we exited the pool deck directly, social distanced. MAC followed York Region Public Health and Swim Ontario guidelines and safety procedures then and, if MPAC reopens, we would continue to follow protocols including self-screening, mask-wearing at all times except in the water, physical distancing of at least 2m at all times and adhering to lane restrictions. We can manage a safe and effective return to training utilizing the pool water and the deck area to safely position us 2-3m apart minimum and mitigate risk better than most sports.

Chlorinated Water Kills COVID-19

Science shows that normal pool sanitation with chlorine levels such as MPAC’s has been shown to inactivate the COVID-19 virus. FINA, the international regulatory body for competitive swimming has received confirmation of this through a study conducted by the University Medical Center of Utrecht (NED) providing evidence that COVID-19 inactivation occurs in chlorinated water at conditions that are acceptable to swimmers. In an interview with CTV news, Canadian infectious disease specialist Dr. Neil Rau explained that chlorinated water in a classic swimming pool would have an antiviral effect, and that the chlorine normally found in public pools would serve to kill the virus.

Swimmers Physical and Mental Health Depends on Pool Time

For nearly 50 years, Markham Aquatic Club has been a destination for competitive swimming. Many of us are training to bring home medals and represent Markham on the podium. After two full months now out of the pool, we are all experiencing deleterious effects of prolonged absence from pool training. We have tried to maintain dryland training at home and zoom calls with our coaches, but this is inadequate. Pre-Covid, our bodies and minds were conditioned for hundreds of hours of pool training per month, allowing a physical and mental growth and sharpness which cannot be duplicated out of the pool.

We ask that you differentiate between recreational and competitive programs. We are strictly asking for the opening of MPAC and Aaniin Community Centre to allow us to resume our competitive training. We are highly motivated, highly disciplined, highly achieving students who have devoted our lives to this sport. Markham Aquatic Club has nearly 50 years history as a successful and trusted swim club within the Markham community. We are proud to represent Markham and York Region and grateful for the support Mayor Scarpitti, Councillors, and the MPAC team have afforded MAC over the years. Our coaches are highly trained professionals who are committed to a safe return to training plan. With our parents, our coaches and our club’s support, we ask that you please open MPAC and Aaniin for competitive swim training as permitted by the Province and Public Health.