After moving from Vancouver to Colwood, there was one question West Shore Rotary Club member Linda Mackie had on her mind.
“Where are all the outdoor pools?” says Mackie.
The capital region’s last outdoor pool at UVic’s Ian Stewart complex closed in 2015. The rotary club is offering to partner with the City of Colwood to help find funding for a new project.
Mackie estimates that the project will cost around $12 million.
“We based that on a project that was done in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and I know that there was another pool in Halifax that was just opened recently,” says Mackie.
“That one was at $18 million. So I think our numbers are probably anywhere between $12 and $18 million,” she says.
Colwood councillors were presented the pool project on Tuesday and were cautiously optimistic.
“The parts that we love about this is that it’s an actual partnership with local service groups and they brought forward this idea to us,” says councilor Dean Jantzen.
“So of course this is something that will be a net benefit for the community.”
As for the location, both parties are eyeing Royal Bay or the area near Latoria Creek Park.
It’s also hoped that the outdoor pool will help relieve some of the strain being placed on the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre.
“We know that we’re in a deficit as far as pools in this area,” says Jantzen.
“We are growing, Colwood is growing, the West Shore is growing and unfortunately we do have to play catch up in some of these amenities.”
The rotary club and the city are exploring the viability of the project. There’s still no timeline on that, or when a feasibility report could go before council.
Cole Sorenson
