Murray Wood: Who's hot... and who's not
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A decision at City Hall is making waves for members of Regina’s swimming community.
Council voted to go ahead with a $245.1 million plan to open a new indoor aquatic facility that would replace the Lawson Aquatic Centre on Wednesday.
“I am absolutely ecstatic,” Marj Walton, executive director of Swim Saskatchewan said.
“I have been involved in this process since the very first feasibility study in 2009 so it has been very long and (I’m) happy to finally be able to start moving this forward.”
Walton said the centre will address a shortage of water, deep water areas for recreation and sports like water polo, artistic swimming and diving.
She also said it will address Regina’s growing waitlist for swimming lessons.
“They just can’t fit everybody through and all of the aquatic sports,” Walton told 980 CJME on Thursday. “They’ve had to cap their registrations because they can’t get enough pool space to allow more members into their competitive clubs.”
Advocates for the new aquatic centre say this will attract high level competition and help growing waitlists for swimming lessons. (City of Regina/Twitter)
The indoor aquatic facility is intended to replace the Lawson which has a remaining lifespan of about five years.
A new aquatic centre was listed as the No. 1 priority for the city’s recreational master plan as far back as 2010, and bringing an indoor pool to Regina was something that Mayor Sandra Masters campaigned on in 2020.
The last indoor pool to be built in Regina was the Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre which was constructed in 1990.
“Swimming pools are one of those things that are the lowest barrier activities that folks can take part in,” Masters told reporters on Wednesday.
Walton also said the centre could draw national and international competitions to Regina.
“For the sport of swimming, we already have clubs that will not attend competitions in Regina because of the shape of Lawson pool,” Walton said.
“So we’re hoping a new facility will then draw some of those clubs back to wanting to come to Regina for a competition.”
Some city councillors viewed the construction of the pool as a legacy investment.
“We’ve worked on this for many years and there are few things that put us on the map. This will put us on the map, we need to be on the map, we need to be recognized by the world and country (showing) who we are,” said Ward 5 Coun. John Findura, who is not running for re-election.
The centre is expected to be built by 2028.
