December 31, 2025: 2025 Year in Review
Good Morning,
These are the stories that shaped us as an aquatic industry in 2025. Apologies in advance for the length of this newsletter. If you've watched any of my 2-3 hour videos, you know I firmly believe it just takes the time it takes to adequately communicate a message. Thanks for being here this year & happy reading.
January
Look no further than what I wrote in our January 10 newsletter as a harbinger for the year to come: "Almost every day I get an Instagram ad for a new Nordic spa," a comment on this article. We completed three projects in Alberta, and are connected to at least another six in Western Canada. I even had one municipal client include a cold plunge basin in the floor plan of the community pool under development.
February
In a rare example of public infighting, the Australian Life Saving Society came out against alcohol advertising six months after Royal Life Saving UK's viral ad campaign with Tom Daly & Malibu Rum. Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia announced the permanent closure of their pool and Kentucky surprised us by proposing a bill to regulate the commercial use of residential pools.
March
Discussion of an infrastructure crisis in aquatics/recreation really started to heat up, I was horrified to discover pre-2014 AEDs may not work due to software issues, and reports on the fatal Oceana fire were published just as a similar fire took place at Yas Waterworld in Abu Dhabi. Another triathlete drowned (fatally) at a high-profile athletic event.
April
We got a taste of the impending Vancouver Parks Board saga regarding whether to build a new a 50m or 25m pool. I shared Jon Keller's op ed on Life Floor being Made in the USA as Trump's trade war started to really ramp up. Paris launched daily pool changing room inspections after men were caught filming women and Apple released a pretty compelling ad regarding a successful ocean rescue completed because of an Apple Watch.
May
In the May 2 newsletter, I lauded a journalist who took the time to report on a drowning fatality correctly and I mentioned the Navy SEAL who died in the Gulf of Aden because we just don't track military workplace drowning fatalities at all. The water park influencer Alex Ojeda was kind enough to let me interview him, and the influencer Emilie Kiser's son, Trigg, experienced a non-fatal drowning in her backyard in Arizona while being cared for by her husband (he later died in hospital).
June
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line announced a new flagship water park in Mexico, a non-fatal entrapment occurred in Spain, I got my first client inquiry regarding cryotherapy, and an agreement was reached allowing Australian lifeguards to be able to easily transfer their qualifications to Canada. This is a long time coming: having such poor reciprocity never made sense for two Lifesaving Society Commonwealth countries.
July
The drowning fatalities at Camp Mystic. We haven't felt the full force of this incident yet, the grief is still too raw for most people, but this WILL have a significant impact on water safety programs and facility operations for years to come. Content warning: the 911 calls were recently released.
August
I spilled the tea on trying to outsource facility operations in Cochrane, Royal Caribbean had a very bad week between someone falling out of the infinity pool and a suspended water slide cracking with a rider on it; the people in NYC are really trying to get +Pool off the ground; the State of Idaho brought back pool inspections; and I did a deep dive into the risks of snorkeling.
September
We moved the newsletter to Wednesdays, permanently, and saw a continuation in the steady increase of customer violence at pools and amusement parks. I highlighted the lack of representation in the surf park industry and the City of Dallas quietly announced they're permanently closing NINE (9) swimming pools!
October
I promoted a personal interest, talking about workplace drowning fatalities and also highlighted when we need to act on reasonable suspicion in the workplace. I asked the question if sexual harassment in aquatics is a problem for our industry - the survey results will be out next week. A peeling pool basin in Iceland was a great example of not solving a problem with the right resources the first time.
November
I shared why Halloween is an event you NEED to program for in 2026. Therme Group announced a project in Singapore, on the heels of acquisitions in Germany plus ongoing developments in the UK and Toronto. In the 20 years I've been in aquatics, I've never seen a wedding in a swimming pool plus a lengthy op ed about what happens when we try to cram our most important operational work into just a few short months each year.
December
If you've followed me for any length of time, you won't be surprised to hear my discussion about Profit > Accessibility or shifting blame when a major project fails and goes to legal. Penny Oleksiak receive a two year ban from competitive swimming and the kayaker who faked his own death to escape an unhappy marriage is out of jail.
In terms of 2026 & the year ahead, I think it's too soon to say. Give me a few weeks to think on it (and take some time off - I worked right up until Christmas this year) and I'll get back to you late January!
What was your favourite news story or newsletter of the year? Please hit reply to this email and let me know! 💙
Our most popular videos on the YouTube channel (by views) in 2025 -
Lifeguard brick test explained: tips & tricks for success!
Freedom of the Seas vlog: Day 1 (Embarkation) September 2025
Mastering National Lifeguard (NL) Situations
Freedom of the Seas vlog: Day 2 (Sea Day) September 2025
Essential Tips for Lifeguard Training Success
Exploring the 2024 IAAPA Expo in Orlando
(Yes, I'm just as surprised as you that cruise vlogs did better than thoughtful industry commentary!😂)
I tried to keep this section as short as possible, but here's the latest aquatic industry news since we dropped into your inbox on December 18 -
How long should a building last?
"Most commercial buildings have a standard design life of around 50 to 60 years, and it's common for them to last only half that long."
Essex woman died from catching deadly disease after hot tub birthday trip
Florida’s swim-lesson voucher system might get revised to allow older kids in the program
RUMOR: Is the ISL Reviving Itself as a College-Based League?
How a tsunami in Sri Lanka sparked a push to prevent drowning
This is a lovely & heartwarming story coming out of the tragedy of the 2004 tsunami.
One Year Later, Star Plunge Hot Springs Still Closed As Legal Stalemate Continues
Woman accused of pushing 6-year-old underwater at Central Florida hotel pool released from jail
Baton Rouge UPS driver delivers hopes and dreams in the form of swimming lessons
StarGuard ELITE, Deep End Fitness & U.S. Freediving Announce Initiative to Develop Freediving Safety Standards for Pools
Desperately needed!!
How changing our safety signs could save lives every summer
I share this article because this isn't just an issue in Australia, but most heterogenous communities around the world. "Experts are warning that Australia's beach warning signs do not clearly convey the message to those who do not speak English as a first language."
Contentious redevelopment of Vancouver Aquatic Centre clears key approval hurdle
A Deeper Dive on CT and Emergency Disinfection Response
Wahoo Swim School permanently closed.
Possibly reopening under new ownership in 2026.
Toddler drowns in bucket of water at home on Christmas Eve
Man and toddler die after tractor falls through lake ice in Saint-Zénon
DEVELOPING STORY: there's a new water main break in Calgary as of last night, and the video footage of rapid flooding trapping people inside and outside their cars is no joke. Thankfully no fatalities have been reported and the weather has been unseasonably warm the last few days, after a deep freeze that would have been fatal in minutes. Rescue footage is here.
Questions or comments? Just reply to this email! Have a friend who might enjoy this newsletter? Please consider forwarding it to them and helping us grow our audience, it really does help.
All the best for 2026 & beyond.
Katie Crysdale
Lakeview Aquatic Consultants Ltd.
PS. If you're not saving compliments monthly, I suggest you adopt this simple business practice in 2026! It will save you on bad customer days.
PPS. The audio discussion of the December 18 newsletter can be heard here.
PPPS. A discussion why cape towels are far superior to traditional bath towels (in terms of aquatic safety) is available here.