City pools to allow hijabs

By TARINA WHITE, SUN MEDIA

Hijabs, saris and other unconventional forms of swimwear have been formally accepted at the city’s 14 pool facilities.

Until last month, the city’s 12 pools and two leisure centres had assessed non-traditional swimwear on an individual basis, Heather Bruce, the city’s aquatics and fitness spokeswoman, said yesterday.

The Non-traditional Bathing Suit Policy, introduced this summer, provides formal acceptance of unconventional swimwear that is worn to protect modesty and religious beliefs, said Bruce.

“It is time to embrace the diversity in Calgary -- not just for ethnic and religious reasons but for body image reasons,” she said.

“Safety is our primary consideration and then the dignity and comfort of our customers.”

In addition to conventional swimwear, patrons can now wear long-sleeved pants and shirts, T-shirts and shorts with undergarments or a swim suit worn underneath.

Traditional ethnic clothing, such as saris and hijabs, are also acceptable with swimwear or undergarments worn underneath, said Bruce.

For safety reasons, women wearing saris -- a long, rectangular piece of cloth draped over the body -- must remain in the shallow end of the pool and are not permitted to use the dive tank.

The policy states that clothing worn in the pool must be different from those worn to the facility, and must be thoroughly rinsed before entering the water.

Village Square Leisure Centre in northeast Calgary, which has a high volume of ethnic customers, adopted a formal policy allowing ethnic and religious attire in the water about three years ago, said Bruce.