The District of Vanderhoof has taken another step toward getting its own pool. The District announced on Tuesday that the project is moving into Phase 2 Design.
A 6-person committee has been struck, consisting of 3 Vanderhoof Councillors and 3 members of the public. The Aquatic Centre Design Committee will begin consulting with an architect to prepare “construction ready design documents” for the facility.
Vanderhoof Mayor Gerry Thiessen says the District felt it was time to take the next step on the project.
“We really sense that we’re at the place where we need to go to our final design – architectural drawings – so that we can be ready to go out for bid as soon as we get a clearance to do so.”
Thiessen says the aquatic centre will be a milestone for the community.
“It’s an exciting time for Vanderhoof and our area. It will just make us much more of a community that attracts people into our community. We seem to retain them once they come but certainly we need to attract those people who will make our community grow so we’re excited about this.”
Currently, the project is just over 50% funded. The Vanderhoof Pool Society recently announced that it had exceeded its goal of raising $500,000 toward the pool’s construction. Thiessen says community members of all stripes made donations.
“Everything from logging companies and the Nak’azdli First Nation was part of that. But then all the way down to young children who, instead of having gifts at their birthday party, would ask for donations to the pool.”
The District has raised just over $6 million so far. The remaining $6 million is expected to come from grants. The Aquatic Centre Design Committee plans to have the design documents completed by the first week of August.
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