OPINION

Dear Editor:

The upcoming borrowing referendum for the Active Living Centre has generated considerable debate, both for and against the facility. As a wholehearted supporter of the proposed facility, I would like to share some facts and opinions that the electorate should consider in weighing their votes on this matter.

It is important to note that the current facility is nearing the end of its functional life and that the new facility is intended to replace it.

A number of statements have been made in opposition to the construction of this facility that require either clarification or outright rebuttal, as follows:

“We are too small to consider a 50 metre pool” – In fact, if you consider the communities outside of Greater Vancouver and Greater Victoria, and look at their populations when they commissioned their 50 metre pools, Greater Vernon (at a projected population of at least 71,000 by 2026) is directly comparable to these other communities – Prince George @ 66,000, Kamloops @ 70,500, Nanaimo @ 76,425 and Kelowna @ 107,000.

In each of these cases the pools were constructed as additional to functioning 25 metre pools as opposed to the replacement proposed here in Greater Vernon.

“We don’t need a 50 metre pool” – With our current 8 lane 25 metre pool serving a current (2021) population of 67,100, we are actually DEAD LAST AMONGST ALL COMMUNITIES WITH POOLS IN THE PROVINCE in terms of pool capacity per capita.

This lack of capacity has shown itself with numerous programs that are constantly waitlisted. These include swim lessons, especially beginner swim lessons in the crucial 3-8 year old age range. They also include Masters Swimming, Public Swims, Aquafit and Therapy Classes.

Then there are the desirable programs that just don’t exist due to lack of pool space. These include swim lessons for 12-18 year olds, a diving club, water polo, underwater hockey, kayaking, and snorkel/scuba lessons. Many residents make the trek to Kelowna to take part in these programs.

If we spend the estimated 70% of the cost of a 50 metre pool on a new 25 metre pool, not only will we perpetuate and exacerbate this inadequacy as we continue to grow, we will be saddled with our short-sighted decision for a full generation.

“We don’t need a new pool with all of our lakes” – The lakes are only suitable for swimming for 2 months of the year, and unpredictable conditions make them unsuitable for programs. In actual fact, our proximity to the lakes makes it imperative for safety reasons to provide access to swimming lessons to our youth, as they are often boating, paddling or otherwise recreating on the lakes.

“Now is not the time to undertake such a large project” – The District of Coldstream is going to referendum on a major expansion of their works yard. In their documents supporting that facility, the District makes the statement, "Continued cost escalation and interest rate growth will only make this project more costly in the future."

This statement applies to the Active Living Centre in exactly the same way.  At the time of construction in each of the other municipalities, they took a deep breath and proceeded despite what appeared to be very high costs. Not one of them now regrets their decision.

“The Active Living Centre is only being built for competitive swimmers” – The Active Living Centre as proposed (which includes far more than just a 50 metre pool) is for ALL users including non-swimmers.

The City does not wish to repeat the mistakes made at H2O in Kelowna where the wave pool and the wave rider were permanently constructed at high expense, and are now substantially underused.

Rather, in addition to the leisure area, there are plans for extensive mobile leisure facilities that will make use of the main lap pool in addition to the leisure pools. This makes sense as the high demand periods for the lap pool usually differ from those of the leisure facilities.

“This project is a WANT and not a NEED” – I believe that access to swim lessons for our children as well as winter aquatic fitness and recreation for all of our citizens is considered as a need by the vast majority of us. However, the line between a need and a want is a value judgement and varies for each of us.

As the former Director of Engineering and City Administrator in Coldstream, it is easy for me to identify aspects of the proposed Coldstream Public Works facility as “wants”. Nevertheless, I understand the overall need for the project in the same way that I can see the need for the Active Living Centre with absolute clarity.

I sincerely hope that the electorate in Vernon agree, and that the City of Vernon can reach satisfactory Servicing Agreements with Coldstream and Areas B & C (as well as some other areas of the North Okanagan) in order to provide unfettered access and lower the projected cost for everybody.

Michael Stamhuis
Regional officials director, Thompson-Okanagan, SWIM BC

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