Under renovation
Canadian Coast Guard College pool gets a facelift.
A much-needed renovation project will push training activities associated with Canada’s marine emergency response to local pools over the next number of months.
The move is tied to an $890,000 retrofit of the swimming pool at the Canadian Coast Guard College that will include a replacement of the tile system for the pool and pool deck.
Lighting enhancements and a new diving stand are among the other upgrades and additions in the project.
“In general, the age of the pool has driven the need to replace the tile and lighting systems,” said Steve Bornais, a spokesperson for the Canadian Coast Guard.
“The 25-year plus tiles were cracked and beyond their lifecycle age. Old lighting needs to be replaced due to the age of fixtures and for energy savings.”
The pool was constructed in the 1980s and has seen no major upgrade work since its construction. Bornais told the Post that the upgrades will
optimize the use of the pool for continued marine training.
“The renovations will give the cosmetic appearance of a brand new pool with the added benefits of upgraded equipment and greater operating efficiency.”
For the most part students of the college used the pool as a practical training facility to develop skills related to everything from marine emergency training, to lifeboat operations.
It was also a venue for physical fitness and conditioning
and was considered an essential asset to the marine training facility.
Over the years the pool has also seen limited community use.
Recently, it had been utilized by groups not associated with the college while local community pools performed some renovations of their own.
The Canadian Coast Guard College has also been able to lend its support through the pool to local swim clubs to help them continue their training and recreation programs.
The pool retrofit contract was awarded on Feb. 24 to Joneljim Construction and actual demolition began on Feb. 27. The upgrades are expected to be finished sometime this fall.
The work is part of the federal infrastructure initiative known as ‘Real Property Safety and Security.
Several other projects have been completed and are ongoing this fiscal year at the college, including installation of a solar wall for heat, fuel storage tank upgrades and boiler replacement at the machine shop with high efficiency boilers and parking lot improvements.
The upgrades list also includes improvement of fire roads and emergency exits, LED lighting upgrades, roadway improvements and roof replacement.