University of Toronto Athletic Centre

This is a beautiful, comprehensive facility. There are two pools, a spectacular 50-meter, Olympic size, completion pool and a 25-yard, six-lane pool. You can check times and lane availability at their drop-in swim web page HERE.

It cost me $22 CAD for the day. I got in a quick 2,100 yards at the end of the day, 40 minutes before closing. The 25-yard pool had only three lane lines in, separating the pool into three, two-lane areas by pace/ability - Fast, Moderate, and Slow. It was busy when I got there at 5 PM, but everyone in the fast lanes were chill. I jumped right in and was able to swim at my pace and intervals with no problem. I would love to come back and try the long-course Olympic pool.

There are lots of locker rooms and showers. But you dress in one area and then have to walk a good way through the building to get to the pool before and after you swim. I am probably spoiled swimming outdoors year-round in Southern California, but the pools here are too warm.

Given that all public pools in Toronto are closed every September for maintenance, this is an especially good September option for out-of-towners. The 25-meter Benson pool is very nice and deep, and the 50m is a professional racing pool with eight great lanes. Both pools have an odd regulation requiring swimmers in adjacent lanes to swim in opposite directions; the lanes are set up for alternating clockwise and counterclockwise circle swimming. It takes a little getting used to.

The pools have a complicated schedule you need to check to figure out which pool you can swim in. You can see the schedules on the the Drop-in Program Schedules page on the university's website. There are lots of lockers, so bring a lock.

I was able to get a week pass with towel service for just under $60 CDN, which was great for swims.

The facility has two sets of change rooms: one for facility members that gives access to the steam room and lockers for rent; the other is used for programs that rent the pool facility and is more basic.

The pools are mostly crowded, especially with people swimming too slowly for the speed of lane they're chosen; and the locker room bathrooms are not clean by any standard I feel comfortable with. And don't get me started on the field house.

People in the 50m pool tend to be more aggressive and better swimmers. Those who use the 25y Benson pool tend to be weaker swimmers. The pools can be busy, but evening swims tend to be quieter. The shower facilities are not fancy at all but clean.