Dear Hive Mind,

[stephanie@ottawa.place]

@chris I voted for the first poll! As I said, I do think it's a basic service, and every kid should be able to learn how to swim! And with climate change, be able to cool down.

However, it would not be a deal breaker for myself

[camerondotca@mastodon.nz]

@chris @stephanie learning to swim is a life skill that should be taught PRECISELY because there are lakes and rivers.

[dx@social.ridetrans.it]

@chris I grew up in one. There was a public pool but it was a private enterprise (attached to a golf course and, ironically, now owned by the town since the town ended up buying said golf course when it went bankrupt). I never really learned how to swim beyond a “doggy paddle out of the deep end” level, and I wonder if these two facts are related.

[ipedmonton@mstdn.ca]

@chris also, we used to BE kids! @stephanie

[rpbook@historians.social]

@chris I'm in a bigger city than that, but I have a relevant story.

Several years ago a local kid died while swimming in a lake. That prompted a huge local campaign to teach kids how to swim.

The primary school my kid went to got a temporary pool installed so they could do lessons.

So yes, I think swimming lessons, taught in a safe environment, are important.

[greenfire@mstdn.social]

@chris
What's the construction cost and annual expenses?

[chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca]

@GreenFire Unknown at this point as it goes around in rhetorical circles.

[http@mastodon.sdf.org]

@chris Yes, and I say this as someone who doesn't use pools. Just because they don't serve /me/ doesn't mean they don't serve the /community/.

[jetlagjen@geekdom.social]

@chris it would not occur to me to check. I'd assume everywhere had a pool, or was close enough to somewhere that had one.

[chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca]

@http thank you for not being a selfish old grumpy 'taxpayer' like some other people I know! Imagine it not being only about "me”!

[greenfire@mstdn.social]

@chris
Yes, I understand but tax receipts are often limited in smaller towns in my experience so it's hard to have an opinion on what they should spend it on.

Never having lived in a community with a public pool probably also makes it difficult for me to have a clue what your town should do in that regard too perhaps.

[chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca]

@RPBook THIS IS EXACTLY THE SCENARIO. Why does some poor child have to die before some people realize swimming lessons are important??

[chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca]

@dx I bet they are!

[chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca]

@IPEdmonton @stephanie imagine remembering THAT lol

[chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca]

@camerondotca @stephanie YES!!

[chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca]

@GreenFire Let's say if your tax bill was $400 a year and it added $50.

[rpbook@historians.social]

@chris I have no idea. We took our kids to swimming lessons at a very early age. Quite apart from any safety angle, it was fun

[chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca]

@RPBook Yes! Imagine doing something because it is a good safe thing but also because it opens up a lot of very fun things for children and future adults!

[bougiewonderland@freeradical.zone]

@chris I said yes because while my own town may not have one, that’s fine with me as long as there are facilities nearby. I wouldn’t live anywhere where there isn’t *anything* nearby.

I also don’t think year-round is a necessity. An outside pool during the summer does the trick. I grew up in Montreal, and every neighborhood throughout the region had its outside pool, sometimes more. I was really surprised when I moved to the NCR to see there are barely any pools anywhere.

[bougiewonderland@freeradical.zone]

@chris @stephanie Pools aren’t just for kids! When it’s 35 degrees out, you’re glad to have access to one, no matter how old you are!

It’s also a class issue. Unprivileged kids should also be able to experience enjoying playing in cool water in the summer and learning how to swim. It should be available only to people who own their own pool or can afford classes.