SUNDRE – Planned maintenance work on the indoor pool at the Sundre Aquaplex that is expected to occur in September will require a temporary shutdown of the facility.
“We are expecting the drain of the pool around the first week of September,” said Kari McQuaid, the indoor pool and fitness centre’s manager.
“Our board is working hard to try to schedule all the contractors to make it all happen as quickly as possible,” McQuaid told the Albertan on Aug. 1, adding the shutdown is anticipated to last approximately four weeks.
The work involved includes installing in the main pool drain a diverter – which regulates the water pressure in the pipes – to comply with Alberta Health regulations, she elaborated.
Additionally, the tiles in the pool basins will also be re-grouted and the underwater lights repaired “amongst a lot of other projects that are important to a swimming pool’s smooth operations,” she added.
Helping to facilitate such crucial upkeep work that ensures the pool remains open, are community fundraising events such as the recent annual Great Bearberry Duck Race, the seventh edition of which was held on June 30.
All of the 500 ducks that each cost $10 were spoken for, as seems to be the case every year for the well-supported event. Numerous members of the community also baked some goodies for a bake sale, and after the dust settled, about $4,970 was raised for the Aquaplex, she said.
The crowd that came out to watch the ducks meander their way down the stream were also treated to hot dogs, chips and pop that were all donated, she said.
As the creek is a tributary to the Red Deer River, volunteers including the Sundre & District Aquatic Society’s president Blair Rushka diligently manned the banks to herd as well as ensure each rubber ducky was recaptured for reuse.
Given the fact all of the ducks sell out every year, she said organizers are looking at introducing a second heat, so to speak.
“The board is hoping that next year, we will see if we can get the ducks in good enough shape to run two races on the same day,” she said.
“We envision them racing in the morning, then having a little break to hydrate and maybe have some lunch and then they would compete in an afternoon showdown,” she added with a laugh.
The duck race has proven itself to be an excellent fundraiser for the Aquaplex, she said.
This year, the first and second place winners – Casey Leszynski and Dawn Rose respectively – opted to accept the prize cash payouts of $500 and $300 instead of a one-year family pass and a one-year adult pass to the indoor pool and fitness centre. Darren Raymond, whose duck placed third, won a 10-punch pass to the Aquaplex.
