Swimmers are slated to return to the waters of Beban Pool on Oct. 4. (file photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

pool

Beban Pool slated to reopen in early October after pandemic closure

Jun 16, 2021 | 3:50 PM

NANAIMO — All pool facilities in Nanaimo should be open by early October.

An Oct. 4 re-open date for Beban Pool was unanimously approved by Nanaimo councillors during a finance and audit committee meeting on Wednesday, June 16.

It wasn’t slated for reopening in 2021 as of early April, which ensured upgrades to the washrooms and change rooms would be complete.

Lynn Wark, director of recreation and culture, said programs offered at the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre were at capacity which necessitated speeding up their timeline.

“It really depends on how comfortable people feel about returning to normal in their lives. Many individuals and groups expressed demand to use the facility.”

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Wark said Oct. 4 is the soonest the pool could safely re-open.

“There are definitely some challenges. There are a lack of certified lifeguards now and it is difficult to get training to certify lifeguards. We’ve had many casual staff who’ve moved on since we couldn’t keep them employed.”

Pool maintenance and preparation is also required.

No money for Beban Pool was included in the 2021 budget due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wark said revenues will likely increase and costs will decrease as restrictions are removed.

If opening both pools is successful and attendance levels reach that of 2019 before the shutdown, Wark said nearly $100,000 in revenue would be gained.

More than $250,000 in costs will be incurred if only 50 per cent of 2019 attendance is reached across both Beban Pool and the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre.

“I feel very confident we should be able to achieve close to those numbers,” Wark said.

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spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt