The Innisfail Aquatic Centre turned 25 in style on June 9.
“This is an amazing facility,” said Earl Dreeshen, the area's member of parliament. He and Innisfail Mayor Jim Romane both gave speeches as part of the day's formal programming.
Dreeshen said the pool offered good opportunities for both employment and the enjoyment of young people.
“I was extremely proud of those young folks,” he said of youthful lifeguards and swim club athletes.
The pool “really put the town on the map,” Dreeshen told the crowd that came out for the speeches and birthday cake.
Romane said he was on the recreation board in 1985/86 and was involved in the planning process and construction year of the project.
“It was an exciting time,” he said of when the pool opened. Romane brought along original Innisfail Aquatic Centre swim tickets he still had from the beginning.
Later Romane said a lot of ongoing preventive maintenance helps keep the pool running.
“It's in good repair,” he said. “It was state-of-the-art technology at the time (it was built).”
The day's celebrations included a barbecue, demonstrations from the kayak/canoe club, Dolphins Swim Club, Hurricanes Water Polo, a water fitness workout and the aquatic centre lifeguards.
A free family swim and a free public swim were held later in the afternoon and in the evening.
