Breithaupt Centre is home to a 25-yard pool, warm water pool, gym, meeting rooms, snack bar and more. We offer swimming lessons, aquafit classes, lane swims, recreational swims and more activities for the whole family.

Check our swimming calendars

On this page:

  1. Contact information
  2. Hours
  3. Parking and transit
  4. Swimming calendars
  5. Swimming lessons
  6. Swimming fees
  7. Pool guidelines
  8. Pool closures during a program
  9. Register for a program
  10. Rentals
  11. In the neighbourhood

Contact information

Address: 350 Margaret Avenue

Phone number: 519-741-2502

Email Breithaupt Centre


Hours

Main pool will be closed on Monday October 28 until 4pm for maintenance

Monday: 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Tuesday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Wednesday: 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Thursday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday: 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Weekends: 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.


Parking and transit

Free parking is available off Margaret Avenue.

Grand River Transit (GRT) route 4 stops on Margaret Avenue in front of Breithaupt Centre.

GRT no longer offers paper bus tickets. Fare payment information is available on their website.

Bike racks are available at Breithaupt Centre Pool.

Get directions on Google Maps


Swimming calendars

We offer these swimming programs, use the links below to see upcoming swims on a calendar:

Check our swimming programs page to learn more about a specific program.

Visit our registration dates page to find upcoming registration dates for swimming programs.

Register for a swim time

Changing your registration

If you need to change your registration, please do so through ActiveNet or at the pool’s front desk:

  • single-visit programs: up to 11:59 p.m. the day before
  • swimming lessons: seven days before swimming lessons begin

Login to your account and select Transaction and Payment History. Find your swim, click the withdraw button and choose your refund method.


Swimming lessons

Registration for fall swimming lessons and programs is open now.

Mark your calendars with these upcoming registration dates:

  • winter 2025 programs and swimming lessons: 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 10
  • spring 2025 programs and swimming lessons: 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 11
  • summer camp 2025: 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 18

Starting in December 2024, when searching for programs in ActiveNet, use "Kitchener Swims" in your search, or reference the new name in our swimming lessons descriptions.

Register on ActiveNet

Visit our ActiveNet questions page to find answers to common questions or watch our YouTube video to learn more about searching on ActiveNet.

Pools may open up more class spaces or times closer to the start of each session. If there are no spaces available when you check ActiveNet, add yourself to a waitlist or visit ActiveNet closer to when the session starts to check if there are new spaces available.


Swimming fees

You can purchase tickets at these pools:

NEW! Summer Splash Pass

Get a Summer Splash Pass and swim all summer long for one great price! Our Summer Splash Passes are valid from June 3 to September 2, 2024.

Pool guidelines apply.

This pass is good for recreational swims, for all ages, at indoor and outdoor pools, including:

  • public swims
  • family swims
  • women-only swims
  • Be U open swims

Cost:

  • child and youth (ages 0 to 17): $32 + HST
  • adult (ages 18 to 54): $45 + HST
  • senior (ages 55+): $32 + HST

Get your Summer Splash Pass

Adult

  • single: $6.62

  • 5 tickets: $31.47

  • 20 tickets: $119.24

  • 60 tickets: $317.97

  • 3-month pass: $213.72
  • daily pass: $10.62

Child (0-17) and senior (55+) 

  • single: $4.42

  • 5 tickets: $20.96

  • 20 tickets: $79.42

  • 60 tickets: $211.78

  • 3-month pass: $136.03
  • daily pass: $6.81

Family

Maximum two adults and all their children under 17 years old in the same household.

  • single family admission: $15.06

  • 5 family admission tickets: $67.76

  • 3-month pass: $314.59
  • daily pass: $24.15

Apply for lower fees

Through our leisure access program, you can apply for lower fees for city-run programs. Find out if you're eligible and learn how to apply on our Leisure Access (fee assistance) page.

Get inclusion support

If you or your child has a disability, you can apply for an inclusion membership to get inclusion support. Support can include personal assistance for leisure activities (PAL).


Pool guidelines

Open the accordions below to learn about our pool guidelines.

Age requirements

For swim admission purposes, a caregiver is defined as someone 12 years or older, responsible for the child.

A swimmer to caregiver ratio defines the number of swimmers that can be supervised by a caregiver. Example: (4:1 ratio) means four swimmers can be supervised by one caregiver.

  • under 10 years old: requires supervision
  • under 7 years old: must be within arm’s reach of the caregiver in the shallow end (2:1 ratio)
  • 7 to 9 years who have not passed a swim test: must be within arm’s reach of the caregiver in the shallow end (4:1 ratio) or (8:1 ratio) if all swimmers are wearing lifejackets.
    • lifejackets may need to be supplied by swimmers as there is a limited supply at each facility
    • lifejackets may not be available at all programs
    • lifejackets must be the appropriate size for the swimmer and approved by Transport Canada
    • water wings, puddle jumpers or any other floatation devices are not acceptable as lifejackets
  • 7 to 9 years who have passed a swim test: may swim unaccompanied as long as a caregiver remains in the pool environment to supervise.
Deep end and swimmer safety
An aquatic staff member may request any swimmer attempts a swim test at any time. To ensure the safety of all swimmers, if at any point a swimmer exhibits any signs that they are tired or weak, aquatic staff may ask them to leave any deep area of a pool and return to the shallow area to attempt a swim test. This also includes anyone over the age of 10. It is up to the lifeguards on duty to allow swimmers to return to the deep area.
Proper bathing attire
Proper bathing attire must be clean and used specifically for the purposes of bathing. It should not constrict bather mobility in the water.

Swim admission test

To provide a safe and enjoyable aquatic environment, we've established a facility swim test standard to help evaluate participants’ swimming ability. This test is used in conjunction with the Wristband Identification Program.

Open the accordions below to learn about the swim admission test.

Swim test assessment

The requirements of the patron are to demonstrate comfort in the water and swim on their front for 20 metres in the designated swim test area of the pool. The swim test will also include a change in direction.

To properly assess a participant’s swimming ability, aquatic staff must observe the following during the swim test:

  • no touching of the bottom or wall of the pool
  • completion of the entire distance comfortably and confidently
  • swimmer’s body must be positioned horizontal and near the surface
  • continuous swimming with no stopping or resting at any point
  • strong forward movement throughout
  • an open water change of direction
  • swimmer’s ability to submerge face under water
  • swimmer’s ability to take a breath while swimming
Swim Card

Children between 7 and 9 years old, who successfully complete the swim test, will receive a swim test card. Swimmers must present their swim test cards to receive a green band before admission to a recreation swim.

Wristband Identification Program

Upon entry to a pool, visitors 0 to 9 years old will be given a coloured wristband to help staff identify their swimming ability. The colours are defined as follows:

Red band

  • children 0 to 6 years old must be accompanied and within arm’s reach of caregiver.
  • caregiver ratio 2:1

Yellow band

  • children 7 to 9 years old are assumed to be non-swimmers and must be accompanied and within arm’s reach of caregiver
  • caregiver ratio 4:1 without lifejackets
  • caregiver ratio 8:1 with lifejackets for all children

Green band

  • children 7 to 9 years old who have passed the Swim Admission Test may swim unaccompanied
  • caregiver must remain in the pool environment to supervise.

Blue band

  • all swimmers 10 years and older will get a blue wristband to show that they have paid admission to the pool

Pool closures during a program

If staff need to close the pool during a program, we’ll issue a credit in these ways:

  • pre-registered programs: credit to ActiveNet account
  • drop-in programs: complimentary pass, see pool entrance staff

We will not issue refunds or credits if you choose to leave due to light rain or cool weather.


Breithaupt Centre

Breithaupt Centre offers programs for the whole family, including:

Learn more on our Breithaupt Centre page or register on ActiveNet.


Rentals

You can rent rooms at Breithaupt Centre for meetings or events. Room rates are per hour and include HST. Capacities include chairs only. If tables are required, the capacity will be less.

  • rooms 103, 201, 202, 205 – seating capacity 8-41 people - $21.58 per hour, including HST
  • room 109 – seating capacity 50 people - $42.73 per hour, including HST
  • room 206 – seating capacity 50 people - $30.77 per hour, including HST
  • room 207 – seating capacity 125 people - $60.03 per hour, including HST
  • gymnasium – seating capacity 300 people - $85.43 per hour, including HST

Note that when booked after business hours a three hour minimum rental is required and additional staff charges will apply.

Depending on the nature of your event other rental costs can include:

  • Resound and SOCAN fees
  • insurance

If you're interested in booking this facility or getting a more detailed quote, please complete the inquiry form to tell us more about your event. Staff will confirm the details of your event with you before finalizing the booking.


In the neighbourhood

Breithaupt Centre Pool is a part of Breithaupt Centre.

Breithaupt Park has a splashpad, located at 775 Union Street. You need to cross Union Street to get to the splashpad from Breithaupt Centre.

Breithaupt Park also has three baseball diamonds, which you can book for private use. Check our field conditions page to see if the diamonds are open.