We are inching in on the final days before the pool at Acadia University is set to close and a governing body for swim clubs in Nova Scotia is fighting to stop that from happening.
The school announced in February it had to shut down the aquatic facility that has been around for decades, June 15, because of skyrocketing maintenance costs – the estimated cost to fix them amounts to $7 million.
This caused a massive uproar not only in the community but throughout the province and beyond.
In a meeting at Town Hall, Tuesday, Executive Director for Swim Nova Scotia Belle El-Hawary said they have offered to pay for a report to figure out any temporary fixes needed to keep the pool open but has not received any word from the University.
“Acadia University has not responded to any of our reach. Even more troubling is the information obtained in the Freedom of Information Request by the local community where we saw a lack of thorough consideration for the community impact or collaborative solutions,” said El-Hawari.
El-Hawary added that there is the possibility the pool could stay open for at least another year.
“Let me be clear…we’re not giving up. We still believe there is a viable path forward to keep the pool open for a few more years, bridging the gap before the new pool is available to the community,” added El-Hawary.
Earlier this year El-Hawary said if the pool does close, they will work on engaging with different levels of government on a new facility.
Asking for help from the community
About 145 attended the meeting Tuesday, in person and online.
Swim Nova Scotia had a big ask – reach out to all levels of government as well as university management to figure out short term solutions for the pool.
“The Acadia pool is more than a building. It’s a lifeline for recreation, wellness, sport and community,” said El-Hawary.
What do they want?
Swim Nova Scotia is asking the university to allow for a “state of good repair report” with Aquatic Associates – a consulting firm that specializes in pool infrastructure.
The aquatic organization would then pay for the report, that would take a few weeks, and then based on what is found would work with Acadia on solutions to keep the pool open while a long-term solution is made.
University says no
Acadia is not interested in pursuing Swim Nova Scotia’s suggestion.
This was the statement our newsroom received in an email:
“We understand the disappointment and frustration the closure of our pool has caused. While we recognize the interest in getting a second opinion, we fully trust the expert opinions commissioned to date. Acadia is simply not in a position to continue operating a pool on a long, medium, or short term. We are committed to doing our best to manage our properties and facilities in a fiscally responsible way that ensures the highest quality education and excellent student experiences, and we thank the community for their understanding.”
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