A Brief History…
The Pan-Am Pool was built for Canada’s first Pan-Am Games that were held in Winnipeg in 1967. In March of that year, based on the unanimous decision of City Council, Winnipeg’s Mayor, Stephen Juba, made an application to the Aquatic Federation of Canada for the Aquatic Hall of Fame and Museum of Canada to be housed in the Pan-Am Pool. Vaughan L. Baird negotiated the application on behalf of the City.
One month later Winnipeg was informed that its application for the Aquatic Hall of Fame had been accepted. It was also to become the home of the National Archives for Aquatic Sports (swimming, diving, water polo and synchronized swimming). Three years after that, on December 14th, 1970, the Aquatic Hall of Fame and Museum of Canada Inc. (“AHFMC”) obtained letters patent and it is therefore the oldest incorporated Hall of Fame in Canada.
The Gallery…
Designed by Ralph W. Schilling and completed in 1999 the 3,000 square metre (10,000 square foot) facility has a distinctive ‘prow’ architecture and was to include a board room/VIP lounge, curatorial office, library with archives, storage and preparation rooms. The gallery was dedicated by HRH the Princess Royal during the 1999 XIII Pan Am Games at the inaugural event of diving. In her honour this 10,000 square foot gallery has been named The Royal Gallery.
After several years of negotiations, in early 2014 the City of Winnipeg and the AHFMC reached an amicable agreement that guarantees exclusive use of the Royal Gallery for the next 50 years.
Thank you to our generous sponsors, supporters, friends, and volunteers
They give financial support. They give their time. None of this could have been accomplished without the host of volunteers giving time for events, a project, or a position. Volunteers and your financial support make it possible. “Thank you!”
“We need and rely on people like Vaughan Baird, he was a tireless supporter of aquatics in Canada. Canadian sport cannot survive without the work and dedication of people like him.”
