Jimmy Thompson Memorial Pool
The municipal swimming pool was built in 1929 for the British Empire Games, Canada's first major international athletic event, which were held in Hamilton from August 16 to 23, 1930. The pool was renamed in 1971 to honour James Gilmour Thompson (1906 - 1965), who competed in the 1930 Empire Games and also the Olympic Games of 1932. Thompson was the first coach of the Hamilton Aquatic Club, which won 92 national and 205 provincial swimming titles under his leadership. He also worked for 30 years as the manager/instructor of the municipal pool and is believed to have taught over 60,000 local children to swim.
