The Sunshine Coast Regional District’s (SCRD) general manager of community development provided further explanation as to why staff recommended keeping the Gibsons pool closed while all other recreation facilities were given the green light to open this September.
In a response to a query from Coast Reporter, Ian Hall said the staff recommendation, initially made at a July 23 committee meeting, was an attempt to “balance service to the community, ratepayer expectations, recreation’s contribution to our region with fiscal responsibility and value for money.”
Hall said reopening the Gibsons pool wasn’t considered cost-effective and other considerations “included that the Sechelt Aquatic Centre offers multiple amenities including all of those offered at Gibsons and District Aquatic Facility, that the Sechelt Aquatic Centre is well served by public transit, and that patronage is relatively higher at Sechelt Aquatic Centre (151,693 visits in 2019 versus 18,014 at Gibsons pool),” with figures including all amenities at both facilities.
“We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause. We are dealing with an unprecedented situation that is impacting us all, and the health and safety of our residents and staff is of the utmost importance,” he said.
Directors voted to move ahead with the openings – and to keep the Gibsons pool closed – at the last meeting before their regular August break.
Gibsons Mayor Bill Beamish, speaking at a recent council meeting, said he was “very disappointed” with the SCRD’s decision to keep the pool closed.
The SCRD’s other recreation facilities have opened or are slated to reopen in the coming weeks.
The first to open on Sept. 4 was the fitness centre at Gibsons and Area Community Centre, followed by the arena at that facility on Sept. 8. Classes and programing are set to start Sept. 28.
The Sechelt Aquatic Centre’s fitness centre was slated to open Sept. 9 and the pool the following day. Classes and programming will be starting Sept. 28, the same day Sechelt’s Sunshine Coast Arena is scheduled to open for dry-floor use.
The Pender Harbour Aquatic and Fitness Centre is opening Sept. 14 and its classes and programing are also slated for a Sept. 28 start.
Unlike in pre-COVID-19 times, drops-ins will no longer be permitted and a reopening framework and other protocols are guiding how spaces are used. Floor decals, for example, will direct people where to go and some bathrooms and change rooms will be closed.
“Patrons must pre-register for all programs, including programs that used to be drop-in before the COVID-19 pandemic. This allows us to make sure that we can all meet the 2 metre physical distancing requirement,” says the SCRD’s recreation restart webpage.
Facilities have been closed since March 17 when COVID-19 public health restrictions began to take effect.
Registration will be open one week before each reopening date. Call to register: 604-885-6801 or register online at https://www.scrd.ca/recreation-guide-online-register.
