â–ş Listen Live
â–ş Listen Live

Rossland pool to operate this year, but long-term unknown

Rossland council has approved enough funding to fix and operate the city’s outdoor pool this spring and summer, but the facility’s long-term future remains a question to be addressed during a recreation planning process.

An engineering report last year found the pool potentially requires millions of dollars worth of repairs, but for now council has approved $32,000 for short-term fixes and $15,000 for maintenance and wages.

Recreation manager Kristi Calder says the city is about to begin work on a recreation master plan that will look at all of the city’s recreation facilities and programs. Staff recommended to council that they put off any decisions about big spending on the pool until that process is completed in 2023.

“It will involve quite a bit of public input as to the public’s priorities for recreation facilities and their spending threshold for their taxation,” Calder says.

The pool will continue to operate in the meantime, provided they can find staff and no serious structural issues are encountered. However, they don’t know yet what their hours will be like this year.

“We’re reaching out to former staff and starting to post the positions that will be available,” Calder says. “We’re just preparing for the season and hopefully we can get enough qualified staff. If not, we may have to see a reduction in hours or service levels.”

Finding qualified lifeguards is a challenge, she adds, and not just for seasonal outdoor pools like theirs, but for indoor pools, and the problem is the same across BC, Canada, and North America. The number of lifeguards is limited, a situation that existed even pre-COVID. But the pandemic made things worse, as it resulted in the cancellation of certification courses.

Calder says they will know in April if we have to adjust their hours. She says the pool is a particularly good place for students/youth to work. To learn about job opportunities, contact [email protected].

Greg Nesteroff
Greg Nesteroff
Greg has been working in West Kootenay news media off and on since 1998. When he's not on the air, he's busy writing about local history. He'll soon publish a book about the man who founded the ghost town of Sandon.

Continue Reading

cjat Now playing play

ckqr Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

Castlegar approves disc golf course in Kinnaird Park

City council has given its blessing to a course being added through the woods at Kinnaird Park, but it remains to be seen whether it will be nine holes or 18.

Public sector workers escalate job action as strike enters third week

The B.C. General Employees Union and the Professional Employees Association are escalating job action as their members enter a third week of strikes. 

B.C. approves environmental certificate for massive LNG project on northern coast

British Columbia has given the green light to a floating liquified natural gas (LNG) export facility on B.C.’s northern coast. 

B.C. forecast to reach record high $11.6B deficit this year

British Columbia’s deficit is only going up, according to the latest budget update.

B.C. Green candidates shared visions for party future in weekend leadership debate

B.C. Green party candidates faced off in a leadership debate Saturday in downtown Victoria. 
- Advertisement -