At Fritz Sick Pool, a local ghost story begins long before the first swimmer entered the water.
This area once formed part of Lethbridge’s Mounted Police barracks grounds. In this recording, the Lethbridge Historical Society recounts the murder case of Wasyl Chobotar, whose execution and burial on those grounds became the basis of an enduring poolside legend.
The narration describes an attack on a miner walking home from the Galt No. 6 Mine. Despite his injuries, the man made it back to the mine for help and identified his attacker before dying at the Galt Hospital. Wasyl was subsequently convicted and sentenced to death.
The story then turns to the changing landscape of the city. As the police grounds gave way to civic buildings and recreation spaces, their earlier history became less visible. According to the local legend, the swimming pool was built directly over Wasyl’s grave.
That precise connection between the grave and the pool is presented here as part of the story, rather than an independently confirmed location. It leads to the narrator’s final ghostly suggestion: an unexpected bubble in the water might be Wasyl saying hello.
As you pause at this stop, imagine the barracks and stable yards that once occupied the surrounding blocks. Beneath a familiar recreation landmark lies a story of how Lethbridge remembers—and retells—its past.
For more stories like this, consider a guided tour with the Lethbridge Historical Society!
