Construction started this past summer on a new swimming pool in Boissevain and now a program has started to raise even more money for the multi-million-dollar project.

Friends of the Pool is an initiative by the Boissevain-Morton Parks and Recreation Board.

Mike Megaffin is a board member, and he says various factors are driving the need for the special fund-raising drive. “The municip0ality did a great job in raising funds for the pool project but unfortunately when inspections started with the pool building that was going to be a two-phase project, but it was determined work was needed there as well.”

“Along with that came the need to retrofit the building and then creating new washrooms and show facilities for the campground. This money will allow us to bring to the table fund needs to apply for grants to help us pay for the difference.”

The board is turning to corporate sponsors and grassroots community residents to reach the goal of $200,000.

“We’ll be providing spots where businesses can put their name and it stays there for the life of the pool. We’re also going to smaller amounts for a grassroots campaign and recognition for those donations will go inside the lobby. We’re looking at doing a brick wall or something like that to identify all the sponsors.”

 

Boissevain-Morton Parks and Recreation hopes to reach the goal by the end of March.

 

Other groups have been funding raising for things like a new facility, but Mike Megaffin doesn’t see that as a problem.

“We don’t have any doubts and we do feel bad because that group has started raising money for a new facility and we don’t want to get in the way of that. Unfortunately, things turned on us and we have to do what we can to get the pool project finished so it can open in 2023.”