After taking several laps as a city councillor and federal politician, Dan Vandal will soon have his name emblazoned on a Winnipeg aquatic centre.

City council voted 12-3 on Thursday to rename the Bonivital pool after Vandal, who represented St. Boniface on city council from 1995 to 2004 and from 2006 to 2014. He served as the Liberal MP for St. Boniface–St. Vital from 2015 to 2025 and held several cabinet positions.

“This is a pool where I brought my kids to learn how to swim. And I expect my grandchildren will be there as well, when they’re of age,” Vandal, 65, said. “So, it’s a great honour, and I appreciate the sentiment from council.”

Vandal, who competed as a professional boxer and earned a degree in social work before he entered politics, retired last year after 26 years in public service.

He was also mayor of Winnipeg for a brief time in 2004 after Glen Murray’s resignation.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said he admires Vandal’s years of public service.

“I’ve always appreciated the interaction that I had with Dan when he was a federal minister and appreciated his insights, his commitment to Winnipeg, and just his style and approach of politics. [It’s] something that I’ve always really admired,” Gillingham said during the council vote.

“We’ll be glad to see his name go up on the side of this pool.”

Coun. Ross Eadie called Vandal “an honest, trustworthy city councillor” and “highly deserving” of the recognition.

One of the dissenters to the motion, Coun. Cindy Gilroy, said she opposes renaming civic properties after politicians. Her views have changed since she voted in 2018 to rename the West End Library the Harvey Smith Library, after the former city councillor.

“So, I know it sounds hypocritical, but also think I’m allowed to grow as a politician and change my mind over the years,” Gilroy said.