A Hidden Gem at Sherbrook Pool: Fitness for the Community, by the Community
By Councillor Cindy Gilroy
Sometimes the best community wins aren’t the loud ones. They’re the quiet, steady efforts that make small spaces more welcoming, more affordable, and more alive.
Working together with the Friends of Sherbrook Pool, we recently advocated to City Council for a reduced fee for the Sherbrook Pool’s fitness area and we succeeded. What was once over eight dollars to use is now just three. It’s a modest change on paper, but a meaningful one for accessibility, inclusion, and community health.
For those who haven’t seen it, the Sherbrook Pool’s fitness room is tucked away upstairs a simple but sturdy space with treadmills, stationary bikes, and weights. It’s not flashy, but it works. And like the pool itself the oldest in Winnipeg it carries the spirit of endurance. Yes, the equipment is aging, and yes, the climb up the stairs can be a small workout in itself, but that’s part of its character: an honest space built for people who want to move, to breathe, and to stay connected.
The reduced $3 fee changes the equation. Suddenly, it’s no longer a hard sell. For less than a coffee, you can fit in a workout while your child is at a swim lesson or unwind after a long day without breaking the bank.
Even better, through the City of Winnipeg’s Recreation Fee Assistance Program, eligible residents can receive additional subsidies to use facilities like Sherbrook Pool including the fitness area. This program helps ensure that cost is never a barrier to staying active and connected. If you or someone you know qualifies, you can apply through the City’s website. Every new person who walks through those doors helps strengthen the case for keeping Sherbrook Pool open and thriving. As our downtown becomes denser, spaces like this that are community rooted grow more valuable. More users mean more reason for investment, upgrades, and attention.
So, spread the word: Sherbrook Pool isn’t just for swimming. It’s a neighborhood hub with room to grow, where a few dollars and a few steps upstairs can lead to a healthier, more connected community.
Sometimes revitalization begins not with new walls or new machines, but with renewed belief in the places we already have.
For more information on the City of Winnipeg’s Recreation Fee Assistance Program, visit: winnipeg.ca/recreationfeeassistance
Cindy Gilroy
City Councillor
Daniel McIntyre Ward
City of Winnipeg
204-986-5951
