SUNDRE – The Sundre and District Aquatic Society has received a big grant that will help keep the Aquaplex buoyant.
The funding boost of almost $120,000 was the result of an application process started last year with the provincial government’s new Active Communities Initiative.
The society was one of 12 recipients from around Alberta that were approved for a portion of a $4.2 million pie allotted in the program’s first round of intakes.
Kari McQuaid, the indoor pool and fitness centre’s manager, said the funding will help cover the costs involved in carrying out a lengthy list of repairs conducted late last fall when the pool was temporarily closed.
“The proposal for the grant went in last spring and included a lot of our shutdown costs,” said McQuaid.
Among the work carried out in 2024 were roof repairs, fixing under water lights, regrouting the pool, upgrading the lighting above the pool to LED, as well as engineering and upgrading the pool’s main drains to meet current standards, she said.
“We are going to have to replace our pool filters very soon, which is going to be a huge project that will use up any remaining funds.”
The Sundre and District Aquaplex is governed by a volunteer board of directors that serve the non-profit society, and the facility’s grand opening was 23 years ago this coming June.
“A lot of our system’s original parts, if they have not been replaced already, are nearing end of life,” reads part of a statement posted on the group’s social media page.
Although both the Town of Sundre and Mountain View County provide some funding, the society also depends on grants as well as donations and ongoing fundraising efforts to ensure the facility remains open.
The ACI grant program was launched in 2024 to support sport and recreational facilities throughout the province and is geared toward small to mid-sized projects such as indoor and outdoor skating rinks, community pools, indoor turf centres, pickleball courts, sports fields and courts, and other sport and recreational facilities.
The initiative is also intended to help alleviate pressure on local and provincial sport recreation infrastructure by supporting eligible organizations to renew, expand, or build small- to medium-sized public-use community sport and recreation facilities.
That could also include new construction projects or upgrades to permanent or semi-permanent structures with the primary purpose of providing public access to sporting venues including but not limited to:
• indoor facilities such as basketball and volleyball courts, pools, rinks and fitness centres;
• outdoor facilities like cricket pitches, baseball fields, rinks and pickleball courts;
• as well as equipment and/or non-fixed assets that are ancillary but integral to the project.
New committee to explore possible expansion
The aquatic society held its annual general meeting on March 19. Blair Rushka remains president, with Rob Lutzko serving as vice-president, Cory Leppa as treasurer, and Jessi Amos secretary.
A feasibility and planning committee led by Lutzko was also struck to investigate a possible expansion of the facility that will involve assessing needs and explore funding options on the path to guiding the project from concept to completion.
Preliminary ideas include a multipurpose room to host functions such as birthday parties and staff training, as well as more space for the 24-hour fitness centre.
Asked if the plan might involve building a new area or perhaps redesigning a portion of the existing interior space, Rushka said, “It would be a physical addition.”
But he also emphasized the plan for now remains an idea in its infancy.
“We are early in the process and need to do some kind of feasibility study first,” he said.
The steering committee so far only has a few members and more are welcome.
“A more diverse group might get some good ideas flowing,” said Rushka.
