City says no to pool proposal

The swimming community came to West Kelowna council for a second time with a 50-metre pool proposal as Amber Piche spoke to council Tuesday night.

The proposed aquatic centre from the team of Emil Dimitrov, head coach of the Kelowna AquaJets, advisor, Amber Piche, executive director and Pierre Piche, business development, would include an outdoor eight-lane 50-metre pool with an adjoining Àve-lane 25-metre pool, dive tank and bleachers.

The centre would be covered by a dome from October through April so the facility could be used year-round.

The centre would not only be used for swim training and competition, but also competitive diving, synchronized swimming, polo and aerial ski training. As well, the pool could offer public swim lessons, aqua Àt, therapeutic recreation and specialty programs such as off shore survival and marine training safety.

Piche estimated the cost for the aquatic centre at $3.7 million including $1.8 million for a used Myrtha pool. The cost did not include land or the cement pad needed for the pool. Myrtha pools are modular pools used for competition, such as Olympic Trials. The pool is manufactured and set up for the competition. Afterward, the pool is dismantled and sold for half its original price.

Economic spin-offs for the aquatics centre could include sport tourism including hosting events like the Swim B.C. 3A long-course provincial meet, a four-day competition which typically attracts 400 families who would spend money locally on accommodation, food, beverages and entertainment.

DifÀculty accessing 50-m. pool time at the H2O pool was a factor in the Liquid Lighting Swim Club in West Kelowna’s recent decision to fold and merge with the Kelowna AquaJets after 23 years of serving the Westside. Kelowna’s pool allocation policy made it expensive for out-of-town groups to rent lane time. As well, out of town users were only able to book time after all the Kelowna users had been satisÀed.

As part of Swimming Canada’s recent competition improvement plan, competitions such as Canadian Trials and Canadian Championships will only have 50-m qualiÀcation standards. Swimmers with 25-m course times will not be able to qualify.

Kierra Smith, who swam for Canada at the 2016 Rio Olympics and is currently representing Canada at the FINA World Swimming Championships in Budapest, trained under Emil Dimitrov with the Liquid Lightning.

“It’s never a good thing when a club, no matter how small, folds up,” Smith recently wrote on her blog.

While council had praise for Piche’s presentation, there was no commitment for the proposal from West Kelowna.

“We are not a Áush community Ànancially,” said Coun. Rosalind Neis.

Mayor Doug Findlater suggested the team investigate the private sector route. Neis suggested they contact Westbank First Nation with the proposal.

There was considerable input received in 2010 and 2015 about the development of an outdoor community pool in West Kelowna. The only other outdoor pool in the valley is a small one in Armstrong, noted Coun. Rusty Ensign.

Ensign, who led the expansion committee for Royal LePage Place, advised Piche to incorporate as a society to fundraise, convince West Kelowna to start building a reserve for the proposed aquatic centre and make a business plan.

Piche asked council to consider adding the 50-m Aquatic Centre to its 15-year Parks Master Recreation Plan.