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Yellowknifers share opinions on aquatic centre

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2309aquaticcentre44.jpg Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photo Some of the early comments and questions that were written by guests on Monday included a desire for a lazy river and water slide while others asked questions about location and what might happen to the old Ruth Inch Memorial Pool.

The City of Yellowknife began holding public meetings this week for its proposed aquatic centre that is expected to replace the Ruth Inch Memorial Pool in the coming years.

Close to 20 people showed up to the first of three sessions at the Shorty Brown Arena on Monday evening. Guests, who were either highly supportive or opposed to the project, worked their way through a labyrinth of protective steel guard fencing erected to reduce risks associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Alex Lothian stands by one of the placards during the public meeting for the City of Yellowknife's aquatic centre, Sept. 21.
Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photos

The city set up several information placards, including what 25-metre and 52-metre pool options would mean for residents. The placards explained the timeline of the project's development, starting in November 2016 to the present day, the recreational possibilities for the two options and the price tag differences.

The city's cost estimate for the 52-metre pool is $49.8 million, with the federal government paying for $12.9 million. The estimate drops to $38.2 million for the 25-metre pool, although the federal government's contribution remains the same. In both cases, the municipality allows for a 25 per cent margin of error in its estimates at this early stage. At maximum, that could drive the cost of a larger pool to more than $62 million.

Danica Patterson, mother of a four-year-old son, and Jennifer Canning, mother of a five-year-old daughter and two-year-old son, were among those who came together in strong support of the project. Patterson and Canning favour the city spending on the larger aquatic centre.

"If they spend the money up front, it would be more beneficial to have the bigger pool," said Canning. "I really think this would be a better idea than the pool ending up too small and the city being in a spot where they can't fix it later."

Many parents have said the Fieldhouse could have been more encompassing of the city's recreation needs when it was built rather than waiting to grow "in patches" in later years, Canning added.

Patterson said her son really enjoys swimming and the priority for her is to have a facility that will provide recreation during winter.

Both mothers agreed that it's important residents take part in the decision-making and that people shouldn't complain if they are not involved in either the in-person sessions or the online PlaceSpeak options.

Alex Lothian, a father of three children – ages eight, 10 and 11 – said he and his offspring love swimming. He aims to get to the pool at least twice a week for his own exercise and has had his kids enrolled in swimming lessons.

Danica Patterson, left, and Jennifer Canning, mothers and friends, take a walk through the public meeting at the Shorty Brown Arena on Monday evening.

"I'm pretty interested in a new pool and I want to make sure it is done well," he said. "I love the pool as it is but a new one would be better. The location is probably the most important thing –ensuring it is accessible to everyone and easy to get to."

Lawrence Choquette, a fieldhouse maintainer with the city, was also spotted at the public meeting. He has two grown children and 13 grandchildren.

"I'm definitely in favour of having a new aquatic centre because I want to see the kids able to compete with other kids across the country," he said. "They have to do something. They need to build a bigger pool. It also keeps the kids out of trouble."

Grant White, director of community services, said he was pleased with the initial turnout, noting that having 20 to 30 people attend is a healthy start. More sessions were planned for Tuesday and Wednesday.

"We are aiming to use every tool in our tool box with three public sessions and the PlaceSpeak," said White.

Residents were greeted with a labyrinth of steel guard rails and more than 10 information placards about the proposed aquatic centre at the Shorty Brown Arena, Monday night.

He laid out the timeline for the aquatic centre to council during the Aug. 31 governance and priorities committee meeting. 

He said on Monday night that getting the public's feedback, particularly following council's direction of providing a conceptual plan for a 25-metre pool option as well as a 50-metre option earlier this year, is an important step toward completing the initiative. Comments or questions that were left by residents will be forwarded to the Taylor Architecture Group project consultants to add to the final design report.

Residents are encouraged to visit the City of Yellowknife Aquatic Centre page for continued updates.