Roof comes off Westsyde Pool

Oct 14, 2016 | 12:41 PM

KAMLOOPS — Since the Westsyde Pool closed in June 2015, the city has been under pressure from residents in that part of the community to fix the facility. While the city has taken the opportunity to look at other options for recreation on the North Side of the Thompson River, the decision was made to fix the existing pool, for just a little over $3 million.

Friday was a milestone day for the Westsyde Pool renovation. The roof has finally come off, and by the looks of the beams holding it up, it’s past due.

“As it comes apart, it’s pretty much what we were thinking,” Capital Projects Supervisor Matt Kachel said of the damage to the roof.

The $3.1 million project is well underway, with the demolition phase coming to a close.

“The block walls are going to come down in the next de weeks, so demolition should wrap up by the end of the month, and [by then] we should be starting to build the new superstructure,” Kachel told CFJC Today.

While the closure has displaced many patrons of the pool and fitness facility, staff maintains those people have been using other city amenities.

“We saw many Westsyde residents coming out to Brock pool in the summer, for their lesson programs, and many … are coming up to the Canada Games Pool,’ said Aquatics Program Supervisor Heidi Ogilvie.

Those residents won’t be waiting too much longer for their neighbourhood pool to re-open.

“February is our target,” said Kachel. “Obviously, doing construction this time of year comes with its challenges, in terms of weather. We’ll keep everyone updated, as we know more, but February is when we’re targeting to be done.”

According to Ogilvie: “[Residents] really just want to get back in the water, and we want them in the water, too.”