Plant Bath, Public bath in Centretown West, Ottawa, Canada
Plant Bath is a public bathing facility in Centretown West located at the intersection of Somerset Street West and Preston Street, featuring a swimming pool, fitness areas, and recreational spaces. The complex serves multiple purposes with distinct zones for swimming, exercise, and community activities.
The building was constructed in 1924 during Mayor Frank H. Plant's tenure to provide essential hygiene services for working-class residents in the post-influenza period. It was built when public baths served as important community health facilities.
The facility sits at the boundary between Italian-Canadian and Chinese-Canadian neighborhoods, serving as a gathering place where people from different communities come together for recreation and everyday activities.
The facility maintains regular swimming schedules with dedicated times for lane swimming, public sessions, and fitness classes throughout the week. Visitors should check ahead about planned activities and times, as these can vary by season and day.
Local residents prevented the facility's closure through protests in 1933, securing its future and eventually leading to its heritage designation in 1994. This grassroots effort shows how community action saved a building now recognized as historically important.
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