Iqaluit's long-awaited new pool makes a splash

Iqaluit's new aquatic centre opened its doors to the public today at noon.

Mayor Madeleine Redfern and city councillors officially opened the centre with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Afterward, the public toured the centre.

The new centre has a six-lane 25 metre pool, leisure pool with slide, whirlpool, sauna, fitness centre with weight and cardio equipment, fitness studio for classes, as well as a multi-purpose room and an elders' room.

Free admission to the centre begins today at 3:30 p.m. Admission is also free on Friday starting at noon.

Stephanie Clark, recreation services manager, says the pool "offers the opportunity for kids to come to a place that is safe, that is supported and that we can have more eyes on them to see how they are doing. That is such a huge thing because kids need to know that they belong somewhere."

Iqaluit's old pool at the Astro Hill complex closed almost five years ago after it sprang a leak. Iqaluit ratepayers voted in favour of permitting the city to borrow up to $40 million to build the new aquatic centre.