Iqaluit's long-awaited new pool makes a splash
Jennifer Geens | CBC News | Posted: January 26, 2017 11:00 AM | Last Updated: January 26, 2017
Grand opening of aquatic centre today at noon
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.