Beloved Verdun natatorium slated to be demolished
The natatorium pavilion in Verdun has been closed for renovations since 2017 and now the 86-year-old-building will likely be torn down.
Growing up, Wendy Duncan spent her summers swimming at the Verdun natatorium.
"You might come for a couple of hours and end up staying the whole day, and at the end of it you'd be ravenous, and then you'd go upstairs to the rooftop where there was a small snack bar and you could pick up potato chips, five cents a bag," said the LaSalle resident.
The natatorium was inaugurated in July 1940. It was the first outdoor pool in Montreal and the largest in Canada at the time.
"Everyone came to the natatorium if you wanted to swim … this was the spot. This was the big pool," she said.
The pool is still open in the summer months but its art deco pavilion is closed. Verdun's former mayor says his sources tell him the building is set to be torn down.
The city is expected to make an official announcement during a public meeting at city hall Tuesday.
"I was really surprised and I said no, no, no it's not possible," said Jean-François Parenteau, Verdun's former mayor.
Parenteau isn't the only person opposed to the project.
"That's totally insane. This is part of the history of Montreal in particular for Verdun," said Yasmine Amraoui.
"It would be a loss not just to this community but to a lot of other communities, too," Duncan added.
The building, with change rooms and showers inside, has been closed for renovations since 2017.
Work on the building stopped the same year when major structural problems were found.
Parenteau says elected officials can stop the demolition.
"They asked me to demolish this building and I said no. They stopped the project for seven years," he said.
Heritage Montreal says given its age degradation of concrete is an issue and is urging officials with the City of Montreal to get involved.
"There have been examples where they found ways to repair it without damaging the heritage value in some other places they had to to reproduce it. So these are different strategies," said Dinu Bumbaru, Heritage Montreal's policy director and spokesperson.
The City of Montreal did not reply to a request for comment by publication time.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW What a wildfire survivor says she regrets not grabbing before leaving home
Carol Christian had 15 minutes to evacuate her home during the Fort McMurray wildfires in 2016. She ended up losing the house and everything inside. Now, she wants to share the lessons she learned.
World No. 1 golfer charged with police officer assault before PGA Championship second round
World number one golfer Scottie Scheffler was arrested and charged with the assault of a police officer in what he called a 'chaotic situation' before being released in time to start his second round at the PGA Championship on Friday.
WATCH Infectious disease expert warns measles 'a very real threat'
A Canadian epidemiologist is warning the measles presents a 'very real threat' to public health if Canada doesn't maintain a high vaccination rate.
Judge considers dismissing indictment against Alec Baldwin in fatal shooting of cinematographer
A New Mexico judge is considering Alec Baldwin's request to dismiss a grand jury indictment against him at a virtual court hearing Friday.
An airplane passenger was spotted in an overhead bin. This was the reaction
Airplane overhead compartments. Home to luggage of all shapes and sizes, the odd coat or two, several duty-free bags, a fair bit of dust and… passengers?
LIVE @ 11:30 MT Four 1970s homicides linked to serial killer, Alberta Mounties to reveal Friday
A dead serial sexual offender and killer has been linked to four homicides in the 1970s in Alberta, RCMP say.
With today's high rates, should you consider an interest-free halal mortgage?
A halal mortgage complies with the Islamic religious, or Shariah, law, which forbids the use of 'riba' (interest). Here's what mortgage experts say those considering 'no-interest' halal mortgages should know.
Top whisky, rum and gin brands could pull products from LCBO amid pricing dispute
A group that represents a long list of spirit brands is warning that some popular products could be pulled from the Ontario market amid a multi-million dollar dispute with the LCBO.
4 dead after Houston storms cause widespread damage, major blackouts
Power outages could last weeks in parts of Houston after thunderstorms with hurricane-force winds tore through the city, an official said Friday, knocking out electricity to nearly 1 million homes and businesses.