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Community Services
Community Services

Wading Pool Admission Requirements

Age Restrictions at Wading Pools

Due to the level of risk involved in water environments and to ensure the safety of participants, the City of Winnipeg Community Services Department established the following rules for children using the wading pool:

  • Children under 7 years of age must have a parent or guardian 12 years of age or older actively supervising them at the pool and surrounding area at all times.
  • Children arriving onsite without suitable supervision will be asked to leave the wading pool area until they can return with an appropriate parent or guardian.

Wading Pool Attendants have complete authority.

  • Wading Pool Attendants have the right to allow or prevent access to any part of the pool or the pool in its entirety should there be any safety concerns regarding the patron’s use of the facility.

Groups are welcome at wading pools city-wide – please check the Group Admission Requirements.

Active Supervision

Role of the Parent/Guardian

  • Children under 7 years of age must be accompanied in the water by a parent/guardian at a ratio of 1:4 (1 parent/guardian to 4 children).
  • Stay within arm’s reach of your child(ren) at all times.
  • When parents entrust the supervisory responsibilities to the guardian, they should ensure that guardian understands and accepts the responsibility they are given. Guardians are required to be 12 years of age or older.
  • Parents/Guardians are responsible for the behavior of the child(ren) they bring to the wading pool.

Role of a Wading Pool Attendant

Source: Alert Lifeguarding in Action; The Lifesaving Society

  • To provide a safe and enjoyable experience through the performance of a high standard of care for the safety of our patrons.
  • The Wading Pool Attendant’s primary function is accident prevention achieved through patron education and influencing or directing patron behaviours.
  • Wading Pool Attendants work with patrons to ensure an understanding of pool rules, identification of potential risks and how to be water smart at a wading pool.
  • If, for any reason, the Wading Pool Attendant must leave the pool area, they will clear the wading pool of all patrons until they have resumed visual contact of the pool.
  • Wading Pool Attendants have complete authority with the emphasis on safety first. Should there be any safety issues regarding patrons use of the facility, wading pool attendants have the right to allow or prevent access to any part of thewading pool or the wading pool in its entirety.

Wading Pool Rules

  • Wading Pools have a maximum depth of 45-60 cm ( 18-24 in.)
  • For children 12 years of age and under.
  • Children under 7 years of age must have a parent/guardian 12 years of age or older actively supervising them.
  • Appropriate swimwear is required (i.e. swimsuit, shorts).
  • Wading Pool Attendant must be on duty while swimming. (wading pools only)
  • Children who are not toilet trained are required to wear a leak-proof swim garment.
  • No horse play. This includes, but is not limited to: running, climbing structures, spitting water.
  • No smoking within 30 m (City of Winnipeg BY-LAW NO. 62/2011).
  • No alcohol/drugs.
  • No glass or food on the pool deck.
  • No large inflatable devices.
  • No water guns or sand.
  • Water toys such as small boats, water sieves, shovels, small buckets, etc., are allowed.
  • No bicycles/skateboards/scooters/in-line skates, etc.
  • No abusive/profane language.
  • Animals are not permitted, with the exception of service animals.
  • Do not drink pool water or water from spray features.
  • Water shoes are recommended.
  • Persons infected with a communicable disease or having open sores cannot enter the water.

Floatation Devices

Floatation devices are not allowed in wading pools with the exception of:

  • Life jackets
  • Floatation rings (no larger than 18 inches in diameter)
  • Water Wings

The Wading Pool Attendant has the authority to limit the use of floatation devices in the wading pool if it is at capacity.

Slide Rules

  • Children 12 years of age and under only.
  • Children under 7 years of age must be actively supervised when using the slide.
  • Feet first only.
  • One child permitted at a time.
  • No playing at the bottom of the slide.

Use of Technological Devices at Aquatic Facilities

  • For a positive and safe experience for everyone at our aquatic facilities, patrons wishing to use cameras, video cameras or other photographic/smart devices to take pictures or video at the pool must have permission from onsite staff before doing so.
  • The use of all technological devices is prohibited in washrooms, change rooms and locker rooms.

Bathing Capacity

  • “Maximum bathing load” means the total number of persons permitted in a swimming pool or other water recreational facility at any one time.
  • Bathing loads are established by the Manitoba Public Health Act.
  • For the safety of all patrons the bathing load will be enforced by the Wading Pool Attendant.
  • If a person arrives on site and the wading pool is at capacity, they will be required to wait until space becomes available.

Groups Using Wading Pools

Groups are welcome during regular scheduled hours. Wading pools are free public facilities so reservations for group events such as birthday parties cannot be made. Capacity restrictions, group ratios, and supervision requirements must be met for all group use.

When using City of Winnipeg facilities:

  • Groups are required to adhere to all rules.
  • The Wading Pool Attendant has the right to allow or prevent access to any part of the wading pool or the pool in its entirety should there be any safety concerns regarding the group’s use of the facility.
  • If the wading pool is at capacity, groups will be required to wait until space becomes available.

Group Leader/Child Ratios at Wading Pools

For safety of all children who attend the wading pool with a group, group leader to child ratios are required to be in place prior to entry into the pool. These ratios take into account each child's different skills and abilities in an aquatic environment.

  • Children under 7 years of age: one leader required for every four children (1:4 ratio)
  • Children 7-12 years of age: one leader required for every fifteen children (1:15 ratio)
  • Maximum group size is 30
  • Groups will be limited to a maximum of 2 hours during high demand

Role of the Group Leader

  • Group Leader-Child ratios must be adhered to when the children are in the water and surrounding area.
  • Group Leaders must be within arm’s reach of children when in the water with children under 7 years of age.
  • Group leaders must be actively supervising their group  both in the water and surrounding area such as the spray pad.
  • Group Leaders are responsible for the behaviour of the children that they bring to the wading pool.

Closing Procedures

Draining of the wading pool is coordinated with the time the pool closes. Staff beding draining the pool prior to closing and as a result, there will not be a full basin of water at closing time. Children will be permitted to stay in the wading pool while it is draining under the following conditions:

  • They do not play near or sit on the drain.
  • There is no whirlpool present.
  • The wading pool attendant does not have to leave the wading pool area to attend to other facility requirements

If, for any reason, the attendant must leave the pool area, the attendant will clear the wading pool of all patrons until he/she has resumed visual contact of the pool.

Last update: July 26, 2019