When public health officials announced pools across the province would be allowed to reopen as soon as Friday, 70-year-old Linda Larkin immediately called her friend, neighbour and long-time swimming buddy. When public health officials announced pools across the province would be allowed to reopen as soon as Friday, 70-year-old Linda Larkin immediately called her friend, neighbour and long-time swimming buddy. However, as Larkin and Lorna Kirkness, 70, read the news article together over the phone, dismay set in. Despite being allowed to reopen March 5, City of Winnipeg pools would remain shut for the time being amidst the COVID-19 pandemic — and the pair’s regular aqua aerobics classes at Kinsmen Sherbrook would stay cancelled for now.