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Regina city council is getting ready to open up two indoor pools and one outdoor pool over the next month.
On Wednesday, city council voted in favour of a motion to open the Lawson Aquatic Centre and North West Leisure Centre pools as well as the Regent outdoor pool.
If given approval from the province to open, the North West Leisure Centre could be open as early as July 6 with the Lawson opening up July 13.
The Regent pool is expected to open on July 17. The city will do a small amount of repairs needed for the pool.
Pools have yet to open this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Once those three pools are open, the city will look at finding enough staff to open up the Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre pool.
If the city had decided to open the Massey and Dewdney outdoor pools, the earliest they could open would have been Aug. 17 due to needed repairs and pool prep time.
The limits at the pools are expected to be around 100 people at a time. The city still needs to determine how it will ensure those limits are followed while still allowing many people to take advantage of the facilities.
Fees will still be in place at the pools but the city said it will work with organizations and clubs to provide free swim times.
Fougere reacts to decision
Mayor Michael Fougere clarified why the city wasn’t able to open the Regent pool on Monday, the first day of Phase 4 of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan.
Simply put, city officials just didn’t have enough notice.
“There was no deliberate hold-off … In the absence of having restrictions, these pools would have been open. It’s about the timing of the announcements for Re-Open Saskatchewan. Last month, we thought we weren’t anywhere near allowing pools to open. We’re trying to react the best way we can,” he said during the Greg Morgan Morning Show on Thursday.
Most people he has heard from are very eager to get into the water.
“Residents want pools open,” Fougere said. “There’s no question about that: It’s hot outside.”