Region needs a good aquatic facility

Re: Games bid pools resources with Brantford — Jan. 20

As a taxpayer, it is disheartening that we would give almost $400,000 to Brantford to upgrade and then rent their aquatic facility for the 2021 Canada Summer Games when our region is paying for the bid and assuming the liability for any loss from the Games. They will reap the benefits of economic stimulation in their community and yet are not being asked to contribute financially to the bid or the Games.

As a swim parent, I see this as yet another testament to the lack of aquatic facilities in Waterloo Region. How is it that a prosperous region of over half a million people does not have an aquatic facility as good as the city of Brantford with 90,000 people?

The City of Cambridge is planning to build a multiplex including a pool, but that proposal does not include even half of the pool space that Brantford has. Cambridge cannot do it alone. There is a great need for an aquatic facility in this region. We have two universities, a college, several competitive swim clubs, diving clubs, synchronized swim clubs, not to mention thousands of children and adults seeking swim-related lessons and activities. The time to get together on this is now. Let’s build an aquatic facility in this region.

Donna Gill

Kitchener