Responsibility for the replacement of the North Peace Leisure Pool was shifted from the regional district for northeastern B.C. to Fort St John, the city that homes the pool.
The Peace River Regional District announced the dissolution of their committee who was previously responsible for the pool, and said the work for the North Peace Leisure Pool will be transferred to the City of Fort St John.
The two parties, alongside the district of Taylor, combined efforts to manage the aging pool through the regional district’s North Peace Leisure Facility Replacement Steering Committee – the steering committee began working towards replacing the pool in 2018, and commenced public engagement, calculating estimates for the cost and impact on taxes, and considering design options for the facility.
Leonard Hiebert is the board chair of the Peace River Regional District, he said these collaborative efforts will support Fort St John as they move forward with the replacement project.
“The groundwork that has been completed provides a solid foundation for the municipality to build on. The PRRD will share all project information with the city in the best interest of the community and the region,” said Hiebert.
This work will not be neglected by the pool’s new leaders, who gave notice of their departure from the committee this July.
“The insights gathered through this process have been invaluable in shaping a vision for the future of aquatic recreation in the North Peace region. The city will build on this foundation as it enters the next planning and development phase,” the city of Fort St John said.
Leaving the steering committee will allow Fort St John and its residents more input in decisions regarding their local pool, the city’s mayor said direct leadership was a factor in its choice to separate.
“We remain fully committed to delivering a modern, inclusive, and accessible aquatic facility,” said Mayor Lilia Hansen. “This change enables us to focus our efforts and resources on moving the project forward, while continuing to provide excellent recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike.”
Fort St John’s newly relaunched Let’s Talk website will have more information from the city as it becomes available, and residents are invited to use the platform to connect with their local government and share comments about their thoughts on upcoming projects, including the pool replacement.
