Former Olympian surprised no contingency plan for UNB pool

Former Olympian Marianne Limpert is surprised by the news that there is no replacement planned for the Lady Beaverbrook pool once it closes. 

"To hear that the Lady Beaverbrook pool is going to be closed and there doesn't appear to be any contingency plan, I guess I'm a bit surprised and also a little bit disappointed," said Limpert. 

The University of New Brunswick's decision to move forward on a new $36-million facility that does not include a pool will mean Fredericton may be without a facility for competitive aquatic events by 2018.

"I think to just close the facility down and not offer any sort of replacement, I guess I'm not really sure why you would do that."

The federal and provincial governments announced this week they were putting a combined $25 million into a Centre for Healthy Living at the UNB, which will mean the end of the Lady Beaverbrook Gymnasium.

Fredericton clubs at risk

For groups such as the Fredericton Diving Club, their future is now in jeopardy. 

"There isn't another pool that would be suitable even for practicing. It would mean the end of the club," said Christine Cross, vice president of the Fredericton Diving Club.

She says diving has seen its popularity increase in Fredericton, but this is a step back. Now Cross has to tell her son that his sport is in trouble.

 "I'm particularly concerned because swimming and diving are individual sports," said Cross. 

"My son has ADHD and he thrives at diving but he wouldn't be able to play hockey or basketball. He doesn't really fit into that team sports culture."

Marta Belsh said the Fredericton Aquanauts Swim Team could also be affected.

"The longevity of our program is really on shaky ground," said Belsh, who is the team's head coach.

Belsh said if they can't figure something out, the organization could come to an end. 

"We have to get together as a board and come up with some kind of a plan … We need to take a little bit more of a proactive role in trying to get the new facility moving."

Gym, pool have reached their shelf life

George McLean, the vice-president of academics, said the gym has been around for a long time and is reaching the end of its life.

"The pool is reaching the end of it's shelf life and the new Centre for Healthy Living does not include plans for a pool," said McLean. 

McLean says the Lady Beaverbrook Gymnasium will remain open until at least 2018, while work happens on the new centre. That work begins this fall.

"It will still be in operation for a period of time. We haven't finalized what the eventual decommissioning of that building will be," he said.

McLean says there have been talks about another building that could include a pool, but there is no concrete plan to do so.