Residents living in the High Country are ready to make a splash in Turner Valley this week.
The Dr. Lander Memorial Outdoor Swimming Pool is slated to open for the season on July 9, but its operations will look different this season.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and accommodating Alberta Health regulations relating to pools, the Town is restricting the number of patrons in the pool at a time, eliminating walk-ins and not running swimming lessons.
“We followed the guidance and restrictions outlined through Alberta Health, as well we’re relying on directives through the Lifesaving Society, of which we are a member, in consultation with our director of emergency management,” said Monique LeBlanc, Turner Valley community services and business development manager.
The Town implemented a registration system to ensure the capacity doesn’t exceed 40 swimmers and to trace patrons in the event of a potential infection or outbreak, LeBlanc said.
“This is unprecedented times where we’ve had to rethink and rework our entire process,” she said.
Preregistration will be taken a maximum of two weeks in advance via email and phone.
With residents in Turner Valley, Black Diamond and the surrounding Foothills County contributing to the operational costs of the pool, LeBlanc said only they are eligible for group registration.
“We are very much ensuring that the pool is available to residents first,” she said. “We certainly want to make sure that we support them.”
LeBlanc said accessing the pool could be a challenge for visitors unless they plan ahead, as walk-ins are prohibited.
“We will try to accommodate as best we can for our campers because it’s one of the perks,” she said. “While we always appreciate that visitors enjoy the pool as well, we may not be able to accommodate them as we would like to.”
In preparation of the pool’s unknown future earlier this year, LeBlanc said the Town conditionally hired pool staff in March. When municipalities were given the green light by the Province to open swimming pools last month, 10 full-time and three part-time staff were hired - down five staff members from past years.
“We still feel we will be able to deliver a great service to the public,” she said. “We’ve been really working hard to try and keep it as open and available as possible, but of course we are also at the mercy of making sure that staff stay healthy.”
Weekday mornings will begin with aquafit at 7 a.m., followed by registered lane swim at 8:30 a.m. and again at noon on Mondays and Wednesdays.
The rest of the schedule alternates between registered public swim and registered group swim, with teen swim on Fridays at 6 p.m.
Registered group swim, which will allow up to three groups of people and a maximum of 13 per group, will allow only cohorts - patrons who can be in close contact like families.
“The plan is to offer one section for tots and young families and the other two to youth and adults,” she said. “If an exercise group wanted to book deeper into the pool to do some aqua fitness they would be able to if they’re cohort.”
Registered public swim will accommodate patrons who aren’t part of a cohort, but they must remain at least two metres apart.
LeBlanc said each swim session will run 90 minutes, with 30 minutes between to allow for a full facility clean and sanitation.
“The most important thing is to reduce the spread of COVID and we ask that the public be patient as we try to accommodate all of the requests,” she said.
Seven sessions will run on weekdays and three on weekends.
Getting a plan in place to safely open the pool wasn’t easy, said LeBlanc, but the Town made it a priority.
“In my research I found that many municipalities threw their arms up and said, ‘It’s just not worth it,’” she said. “There is no financial gain. In fact there’s a loss.”
LeBlanc said the Dr. Lander Memorial Swimming Pool is considered important and much-cherished in the community.
“Our staff has been completely focused on trying to offer that as a summer activity,” she said. “We appreciate everyone’s support and ask for their patience as we get through, potentially, a few bumpy parts. We will definitely do our best to provide great service and fun times to those who come to the pool.”
To register for a swim time email [email protected] or call 403-933-7483.
For more details visit http://turnervalley.ca/services/facilities-parks/dr-lander-memorial-swimming-pool/
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