$120,000 grant contributes to improvements at Sundre pool

The Sundre and District Aquatic Society has secured a significant grant that will help sustain the Aquaplex. This financial support, amounting to nearly $120,000, stems from an application process initiated last year under the provincial government's new Active Communities Initiative. The society is one of 12 organizations across Alberta to receive a share of the $4.2 million allocated during the program's initial round of funding. Kari McQuaid, the manager of the indoor pool and fitness center, explained that the grant will assist in covering expenses incurred during an extensive list of repairs completed last fall while the pool was temporarily closed.

 "The grant proposal was submitted last spring and included many of our shutdown costs," McQuaid noted. The repairs undertaken in 2024 comprised roof work, underwater lighting repairs, pool regrouting, upgrading overhead lighting to LED, and engineering enhancements to the pool's main drains to meet contemporary standards, she added. "We will soon need to replace our pool filters, which will be a major project consuming any remaining funds." The Sundre and District Aquaplex is managed by a volunteer board overseeing the non-profit organization, and the facility's grand opening was celebrated 23 years ago this June. 

"A lot of the original components of our system are either nearing the end of their lifespan or have already been replaced," the organization stated in a social media announcement. While both the Town of Sundre and Mountain View County contribute some funding, the society also relies on grants, donations, and ongoing fundraising efforts to keep the facility operational. Launched in 2024, the ACI grant program aims to support sport and recreational facilities across the province and is targeted at small to mid-sized projects, including indoor and outdoor skating rinks, community pools, indoor turf centers, pickleball courts, sports fields, and other recreational venues. The initiative also seeks to ease pressure on local and provincial sport recreation infrastructure by assisting eligible organizations in renewing, expanding, or constructing small to medium-sized public-use recreational facilities. This may encompass new builds or upgrades to permanent or semi-permanent structures designed primarily for public access to sporting venues, including but not limited to: - Indoor facilities such as basketball and volleyball courts, pools, rinks, and fitness centers. - Outdoor facilities like cricket pitches, baseball fields, rinks, and pickleball courts. - Equipment and non-fixed assets that play an integral role in the project. New Committee to Explore Expansion Opportunities During its annual general meeting on March 19, the aquatic society confirmed Blair Rushka as president, Rob Lutzko as vice-president, Cory Leppa as treasurer, and Jessi Amos as secretary.
 The group also established a feasibility and planning committee, chaired by Lutzko, to explore potential expansion of the facility, which will include assessing needs and investigating funding opportunities to guide the project from initial concept to realization. Early ideas for expansion involve creating a multipurpose room for events such as birthday parties and staff training, as well as additional space for the 24-hour fitness center. When asked whether the expansion might entail constructing a new area or redesigning part of the existing facility, Rushka responded, "It would be a physical addition." However, he stressed that the plan is still in its nascent stages. 
"We are in the early phases and will need to conduct a feasibility study first," he said. Currently, the steering committee consists of only a few members, but additional participants are encouraged to join. "A more diverse group might generate some great ideas," Rushka commented.

Edited:Bosman