Gibsons Coun. David Croal says there’s no “plot afoot” to permanently close the Gibsons pool and he’s hopeful a report expected to go to Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) directors Nov. 12 could lead to a December reopening.
The Gibsons and District Aquatic Facility is operated through the SCRD recreation department and since a decision to keep it closed while reopening the Sechelt Aquatic Centre and the pool in Pender Harbour in September, Gibsons council has been receiving a constant stream of letters and emails calling for the Gibsons pool to be reopened as well.
There’s also an online petition, and last month Gibsons council voted to approve using up to $5,000 from a trust fund meant for an eventual expansion of the pool to help cover the SCRD’s costs for installing COVID protection measures.
In his report to council on Nov. 3, Croal, the town’s representative on the SCRD board, said he met earlier that day with SCRD chair Lori Pratt and the directors from Elphinstone and West Howe Sound to discuss the pool.
He said the SCRD has been working toward a reopening in early 2021, but the report Nov. 12 should give the board enough information to decide if it can be done Dec. 1 or earlier.
“Just to quell the myths that are going around that it’s a plot to permanently close the Gibsons pool – that’s not the case,” Croal said.
Coun. Stafford Lumley said he’d like the SCRD directors to keep one thing in mind when they talk about the Gibsons pool.
“The pool isn’t a profit and loss centre, it wasn’t built to make money,” Lumley said. “It’s a community amenity, and you have to keep that in back of your mind as you look at the positives and negatives as far as revenues go. It serves the community, and we have to take that into consideration.”
Croal also told council that he hopes the meeting with Pratt and directors Donna McMahon and Mark Hiltz will lead to regular dialogue on other issues that involve the town and the neighbouring SCRD rural areas.
“I think it could be a really beneficial opportunity to problem solve,” Croal said.
