Paradise residents to have their say on pool idea
By Tyler Waugh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Paradise residents will get a chance at the end of April to attend a public presentation and question the consultants who put together the report on the feasibility of a Town swimming pool.
Stantec Consulting Ltd., which compiled the report, will be paid a further $2,750, plus HST, to present it to the public and take questions.
“We did have a lot of public engagement on the pool feasibility and that allowed for some community feedback during those engagements,” said councillor Jennifer Hiscock, who brought the item forward during her recreation update to council earlier this month. “The report was presented at our public council meeting for our committee of the whole meeting on Dec. 2. That meeting was also (live streamed).”
The public presentation will take place the last week of April and a written report uploaded the week of April 13 with opportunities for feedback and questions.
Stantec was awarded the pool feasibility study contract at a price of $74,897, HST included, in May 2025 and presented its findings to council in December. The study determined the base cost for a pool would be $46 million, but could be upwards of $67 million depending on factors such as size and location.
Stantec proposed either building the pool onto the Double Ice Complex or near the Dianne Whalen sports field. It estimated a steel structure with a 25-metre lap pool built onto the Double Ice Complex would cost $46.8 million while a 50-metre lap pool would cost nearly $61.7 million. A timber construction would be slightly cheaper for a 25-metre lap pool at $47.2 million, and the 50-metre lap pool version costing nearly $62 million.
Building a pool at the Dianne Whalen sports field, meanwhile, would cost between $49.9 million and $67.6 million based on whether a steel or timber construction is used. Stantec stated the prices come with a 20 per cent design and pricing contingency, 10 per cent construction contingency, and are accurate within 30 per cent in either direction, with about an expected six per cent cost increase per year.
There were 1,921 completed online surveys as part of the feasibility study and while between 80 and 90 percent of respondents agreed a pool would improve the quality of life of residents, some did voice concerns over tax increases and sustainability.
The feasibility study estimated annual operating costs of $1.8 million and outlined revenue scenarios to cover some of those costs. The Town would need to register 2,500 swimmers at a cost of $70 per 10 lessons and 276,000 swimmers at a drop-in rate of $2.50 to $5 per swimmer, as well as book 1,200 rental hours at a cost of $15 per hour to recover even half of the pool’s annual operating cost.
Around 85 per cent of online survey respondents said they would be willing to pay additional taxes to support a pool. Stantec recommended the Town tax residents an additional $100 per dwelling per year to cover the pool’s remaining operating costs.
Councillors acknowledged there are strong opinions within the community on both sides of this issue.
“There isn’t an event you go to that you don’t hear residents talking about the pool feasibility study, whether it be one side or the other,” said councillor Sheldon Antle. “Part of the work that we do as councillors and as council is engage with residents and in order to engage with residents, we need to provide them with the information they need to help us determine which direction that they, as individuals who put us in these seats, would like us to move.”
Hiscock said there will be no RSVP required from residents to attend the meeting and Stantec staffers will be available to answer questions. It was clarified the primary intention of the meeting will be to inform residents and not to compile formal feedback, though comments and questions can be forwarded to councillors and through the engagement@paradise.ca email.
The Town acknowledged that residents had identified the need for a pool within its Paradise 2027 Strategic Plan and committed to completing a feasibility study.
Councillors stated that a decision has not been made on building a pool and Hiscock, when asked, said there is no set timeline on any council decision following the public presentation.
“I don’t think it’s something imminent that needs to be decided right away,” she said. “I think we need to make some big decisions there, so I think we are going to have to take our time and figure that out, but I don’t think there’s a set deadline for us to make that decision.”