Entering təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre feels like coming home. Laughter fills the open spaces. Older adults share stories. Parents take a well-earned break while their children splash in swimming lessons. It’s more than a recreation centre — it’s a gathering place for all ages, all backgrounds, and every corner of the community.
“We’re telling people to come and stay a while, and the community living room (the main lobby) is probably one of the most active spaces in our entire facility. It’s almost always full,” said Corrinne Garrett, Deputy Director for Recreation Services and Facilities in New Westminster.
təməsew̓txʷ reflects the community values of accessibility, inclusivity, and sustainability, all while setting a new standard for modern recreation centres.
In May 2025, təməsew̓txʷ received BCRPA’s Facility Excellence Award for projects over $6 million for its groundbreaking achievement in sustainable and inclusive facility design.
“It’s everybody, everywhere, all the time — is the best way I can explain it”
Opened in 2024, təməsew̓txʷ is Canada’s first all-electric facility to meet the Canada Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building-Design Standard. Also, through its LEED Gold certification, it aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% — a significant achievement for energy-intensive facilities like pools and ice rinks.
How Accessibility Brings Community Together
Beyond environmental sustainability, təməsew̓txʷ is setting new standards for accessibility, with a focus on ensuring that no one is left behind when it comes to recreation and community connection.
“A lot about physical accessibility is also about choice,” said Ali Kenyon, an Associate Principal and architect with hcma, the Vancouver-based architecture firm that designed təməsew̓txʷ. “There is no singular way someone has a disability. And so, we’re designing for many, many variables that are sometimes overlapping.”
Before təməsew̓txʷ, New Westminster’s Canada Game Pool was a well-used facility that served the community for 58 years. However, due to its age, the facility had minimal accessibility features with limited access for some individuals
“We worked to reverse engineer what would make this a more welcoming, all-inclusive facility that is more well-rounded,” Ali explained.
Accessibility is considered in every detail, from entryways to open layouts, sensory-friendly features, and adaptable furniture, earning təməsew̓txʷ a Rick Hansen Accessibility Foundation Gold Certification.
Extensive community input helped identify and address gaps.
A privacy screen now enables women-only, sensory-friendly, and all-bodies swim times, while community lunches help reduce food insecurity through its soup and bannock.
The unique space now brings all community members under one roof.
“You see three-year-olds with 60-year-olds, with our urban Indigenous community members,” Corrinne added. “It’s everybody, everywhere, all the time — is the best way I can explain it. And they are sharing stories over food at our soup and bannock time, and food that they didn’t have to pay for. That sense of connection—it was the most beautiful feeling to observe.”
Transforming the Industry with Innovation and Universal Design
Innovation at təməsew̓txʷ extends to the very air patrons breathe.
“It feels very connected to nature, and it doesn’t smell like a pool,” said Ali. “That seems like such a minor thing, but that’s huge. The amount of effort and thinking that went into the pool filtration system in this project is significant.”
təməsew̓txʷ is the first aquatic centre in North America using the innovative inBlue pool drum filtration system. This pool filtration technology not only improves air quality but also enhances the experience for those with sensory sensitivities, reinforcing the Centre’s commitment to the full spectrum of accessibility.
Ali noted that the adult hot pool also features a “significant accessibility feature” because it’s raised above the pool deck, allowing for easier transfers.
“The transfer edge really speaks to that universal design concept,” Corrinne added. “It’s not just for wheelchairs. It’s for walkers. It’s for people with canes.”
More than a decade in the making, the Centre was designed to always have room to grow.
“Accessibility and inclusion for us didn’t end the day that we opened təməsew̓txʷ,” said Corrinne.
“We want to be responsive to the community and do what we can, being aware of how we can continue to grow and provide more,” she added.
For more information about təməsew̓txʷ, visit the project’s website.