The low afternoon sun catches the ripples in a deserted swimming pool at Pine Lake Resort, just outside Orillia. Yellow caution tape flutters in the breeze where children should be splashing.
“We were planning to spend most of our week at the pool,” says Melissa Greenberg, who traveled from Montreal with her family for a two-week stay. “Now my kids keep asking when they can swim, and I don’t have answers.”
Greenberg isn’t alone in her frustration. Three popular campgrounds in the Orillia area—Pine Lake Resort, Shamrock Bay Camping, and Outdoor Adventures—have had their pools closed following health inspections that revealed multiple infractions. The closures come during the peak of summer vacation season, leaving hundreds of campers without access to one of camping’s most cherished amenities.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit ordered the closures after inspections revealed issues including inadequate chlorine levels, cloudy water, and malfunctioning filtration systems. At Pine Lake Resort, inspectors also found the emergency phone disconnected and missing safety equipment required by Ontario’s public pool regulations.
“We’re working around the clock to address these issues,” says Dan McPherson, manager at Pine Lake Resort. “But some of the parts needed for our filtration system are on backorder, and we can’t reopen until everything meets code.”
For the health unit, the decision to close the pools wasn’t taken lightly. Health inspector Sandra Wong explains that pool chemistry is crucial for public safety. “Inadequate disinfection can lead to the spread of recreational water illnesses caused by germs like E. coli, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia,” she says. “When we find multiple infractions that compromise safety, closure is necessary until conditions improve.”
Data from Health Canada shows recreational water illnesses affect thousands of Canadians each year. The risk is particularly high in the summer months when pool usage peaks and high temperatures can accelerate chemical degradation in inadequately maintained facilities.
This isn’t the first time Orillia-area campgrounds have faced scrutiny over their pools. Records obtained through freedom of information requests show that Pine Lake Resort received warnings last summer about inconsistent water quality testing, though no closure was ordered then.
For small campground operations, maintaining pools to provincial standards presents significant challenges. “The regulations have become increasingly stringent over the past decade,” explains Connie Williams, president of the Ontario Private Campground Association. “Many smaller facilities are finding it difficult to keep up with both the technical knowledge and financial requirements.”
Williams points to a provincial survey indicating nearly 30% of small campground operators have considered permanently closing their pools due to maintenance costs and liability concerns.
The economic impact of the closures extends beyond the campgrounds themselves. Local businesses that depend on summer tourism are feeling the effects as some campers cut their stays short.
“We’ve had families cancel their reservations,” says Jenny Ruiz, who runs the office at Shamrock Bay. “They specifically booked with us because of the pool. We’re offering partial refunds, but it’s a tough situation for everyone.”
At Outdoor Adventures, management has tried to salvage the situation by arranging shuttle buses to the Orillia Recreation Centre’s public pool—a twenty-minute drive away. “It’s not ideal, but we’re trying to provide alternatives,” says operations manager Kyle Stevens. “We’ve also expanded our beach area and added more water activities on the lake.”
For the Greenberg family, the lake isn’t a suitable alternative. “My youngest has sensory issues and the lake bottom feels ‘icky’ to him,” Melissa explains. “The pool was our compromise. Now we’re driving into town every day looking for things to do.”
The closures have highlighted the gaps in Ontario’s recreational water facility oversight. Unlike restaurants, which display inspection results prominently through the province’s color-coded DineSafe program, pool inspection results are not readily available to the public unless specifically requested.
Dr. Laura Feldman, a public health researcher at the University of Toronto, believes increased transparency could benefit both consumers and facility operators. “When inspection results are public, we typically see improved compliance,” she says. “Consumers can make informed choices, and operators have additional incentive to maintain standards.”
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit conducts routine inspections of public pools at least twice during the operating season, plus additional visits in response to complaints. However, with over 300 public pools and spas in their jurisdiction, maintaining frequent oversight presents challenges.
For now, the campgrounds are focused on making necessary repairs. Pine Lake Resort expects to reopen their pool within a week, while Shamrock Bay’s timeline remains uncertain. Outdoor Adventures anticipates at least two more weeks of closure as they replace their entire filtration system.
As the afternoon wears on at Pine Lake, the Greenberg children throw stones into the lake instead of practicing their cannonballs in the pool. “We’ll make the best of it,” Melissa says with a sigh. “But next year, I’ll definitely be checking on the pool situation before booking.”
The health unit encourages all would-be swimmers to inquire about recent inspections before using public pools and to report any concerns about water quality or safety issues. Visitors can also look for inspection notices, which must be displayed at all regulated aquatic facilities in Ontario.
