"We do expect our pool project to be complete in 2024 and we’re all excited about that,” shares Deloraine-Winchester EDO Glenn Schellenberg. “That’s probably going to be one of the most visible and SPLASH-IEST event that’s going to happen here!” 

One challenge of 2023 for Deloraine was the pool closure, but Council acted swiftly to establish and plan, secure a structural design for the new swimming pool, and fundraising began! 

Schellenberg says the features that are in today’s pool designs being constructed is that it facilitates a variety of functions; recreation and fitness as well as health and wellness. 

“It goes beyond kids just splashing in the water or learning how to swim,” explains Schellenberg. “It opens up such a world of opportunity to anyone who wants to be in the water. Having that beach aspect is critical to having easy access to the water and is probably one of the most significant developments in new pool design is to open the opportunity to water play to everybody in the community, regardless of age and regardless of ability.” 

The significance of the new design accommodating most every age and ability, Schellenberg sees this as a driving force when it comes to fundraising. 

The aquatic centre is budgeted for $2.2 million, and the community has raised over half that amount already, through grants and larger donations from partnering sponsors, such as the Tundra Oil & Gas donation of $100,000, but through the grass-roots effort of the community itself. 

“There is a general recognition that this is not just for young kids, for the young families, not only for every generation that is here today, but for future generations as well,” he shares. “And I think that there is a real desire to support that and to feed that.” 

Schellenberg feels the final costs of the aquatic centre will come in under the $2.2 million. “You know, we have to budget for worst-case-scenario and for contingencies and that sort of thing, but we’re expecting to come in well under that.” 

 

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