This week, it is all about the pool.
A crowd of more than seventy people showed up for the Town of Barrhead’s official grand opening ceremony of the Barrhead Regional Aquatics Centre July 14.
In addition to Aaron the Blue Heron who was on hand for photograph opportunities, the event was catered by Freson Bros. and guest speakers included Peace River - Westlock MP Arnold Viersen, who brought a message from MLA Glenn van Dijken, Town of Barrhead mayor Gerry St. Pierre, County of Barrhead reeve Doug Drozd and Barrhead Agrena Society president Shannon Carlson.
“Good things come to those who wait,” St. Pierre told the crowd, adding there were a lot of different groups and individuals who helped make the project a success.
“Shannon Carlson and the Barrhead Agrena Society in particular, who initiated this project over six years ago and worked diligently to promote it and to solicit funds, for not only achieving your goals but for exceeding them, thank you,” he said.
St. Pierre said the architects who designed the facility, Clarke Builders, Town of Barrhead chief administrative officer Martin Taylor and director of corporate services, Cathy Vickery, past recreation director Sue Keenan and current Town of Barrhead recreational director Shallon Touet — along with the rest of the Town of Barrhead staff deserved recognition.
“It is often said that being an elected official is a thankless job, well, to my fellow councillors — Roy Ulmer, Ty Asaf, Ryan Warehime, Don Smith, Leslie Penny and Shelley Oswald, thank you for your unwavering committment in spite of the hurdles we faced to build an aquatic centre that is right for our community,” St. Pierre said.
Carlson agreed.
“We did it! Thanks to the hard work and generosity from so many people in the town and the county of Barrhead, we [Agrena Society] achieved our $1.5 million dollar goal,” Carlson said, adding the businesses in the community stepped up like they always do.
“Fundraising for this project couldn’t have come at a worse time for businesses, with the economic downturn and some of the worst farming weather I’ve seen in my own life time, but with all of that, still you gave. Personal donations were over the top and some of them were quite large. Regardless of the size of the donation, I was always honoured to accept them.”
Many donors, Carlson said, did not even care if they were recognized at all.
“In May of 2011, we brought forward the idea of raising money for the pool to council,” Carlson said, adding the Barrhead Agrena Socety worked on it for seven years.
“There’ve been so many twists and turns on the path to our goal and sometimes there was no path at all. I’m proud that our group remained steadfast and focused on our goal. I’m looking forward to swimming lengths in the early morning, something I haven’t done in years,” Carlson said.
Drozd agreed.
“The community has come together and every little bit has helped,” Drozd said, adding on behalf of the county, he hoped the new facility would have a positive impact on the economy of Barrhead.
Viersen said the community’s dedication shows.
“I know a lot of hard work has gone into this facility from some really dedicated people. This pool, it fits in very well with its surroundings and I think the colour scheme works very well. I’m sure this pool will be a hub of the community and will serve us for generations to come, much as the old pool did in the past,” he said.
