It didn’t open in time for Christmas as Gibsons Mayor Bill Beamish had pressed for, but the Gibsons and District Aquatic Facility will just hit the “early January” mark set by staff.
After 10 months, the Gibsons pool is set to reopen Monday, Jan. 11, according to the Sunshine Coast Regional District’s (SCRD) website.
“Following board direction, staff worked as quickly as possible to prepare the facility, develop and implement safety plans and barriers and to recruit additional aquatic staff,” SCRD’s planning and community development general manager Ian Hall told Coast Reporter. “The timelines for a number of those items drove the Jan. 11 opening date.”
At a late November SCRD board meeting, Beamish said it would be “disappointing” if the pool didn’t open in time for the Christmas holidays as an outlet for isolated families and individuals.
At the time, staff said despite working as quickly as possible, a timeline of late December or early January was more likely because of requirements to prepare the facility.
The pool has been closed since March, and in October a petition was circulated pressuring the SCRD to open it.
While the pool is set to open its doors next week, COVID-19 restrictions mean group fitness classes will have to wait and the “tot pool” water feature will be closed. Water fountains will also be closed and patrons have 10 minutes to use the change room after their session.
In the meantime, lap swimming, leisure swimming and use of the hot tub will be available opening day.
Pre-registration is mandatory, as with other SCRD recreation facilities, and has been available for the Gibsons pool since Jan. 4.
“We look forward to welcoming patrons back to the Gibsons pool and thank the community for their patience and continued support for safe recreation,” said Hall.
People can register by phone at: 604-885-6801 or online by visiting: www.scrd.ca/gibsons-district-aquatic-facility
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