The 2020 budget will include $260,000 to demolish Dease Pool, but pool supporters aren’t giving up the ghost.
Three vocal supporters made their case to City Council during three hours of discussion and deputations on Monday night. In the end, City Council voted 8-3 to tear down the building. The demolition won’t be finalized until the ratification of the 2020 budget.
Much of the discussion centred around the projected $2.5-million cost of replacing or renovating the pool. Ray Smith, who has been leading the charge to keep the pool in use, argues that the money is there. He notes the city has earmarked millions of dollars for other projects, and stressed the pool is crucial for area children.
Supporter and contractor Kateri Banning argues the city’s estimate for the work is unrealistically high.
Lori Paras made an emotional plea to Council, pointing out it was originally built as a safer alternative to swimming in rivers after several local children drowned in the Kaministiquia River.
Speaking after the meeting, Paras says the fight isn’t over. She says they will continue making deputations for as long as Council allows them to. Paras notes there was more support for the project Monday night than when it was originally brought to Council a year ago. She says those who voted to demolish it are “on the wrong side of history.”
She adds they are exploring other options. “We have been approached by a community legal clinic that has said that this is a social justice issue, and that they’re willing to speak with us if we were not able to get the answer that we wanted from Council and rebuild Dease Pool.”
The pool advocates singled out McKellar Ward Councillor Brian Hamilton and accused him of ignoring his constituents’ wishes by not backing their campaign. Hamilton has said the pool isn’t as heavily used as supporters claim, and he maintains that paying for the facility shouldn’t be a priority.
“By investing our full capital reserves specifically for this one pool, at this one time, passing that money over organizations that are doing targeted outreach for those youth, I think would be a big mistake.”
Councillor Aldo Ruberto was one of the three to oppose the motion. He claims the price tag city staff have given for replacement is too high. He says the estimate for the work is using a “palace standard” when “people are happy with simplicity, as long as you provide the service in a clean, comfortable place.”
Current River Councillor Andrew Foulds also voted against the motion, asking for his vote to be recorded.
In December 2018, City Council made the decision to close the 106-year-old Dease Pool facility which had reached the end of its life cycle. They took the money earmarked for the pool and have used it to add more recreational activities at Dease Park and Art Widnall Pool.
That prompted a campaign from local residents who have been pushing the city to keep it open. Supporters argue it’s not reasonable for children to walk from the Dease neighbourhood to Art Widnall Pool.
The city is also looking at making the pool a Heritage Site, or installing a plaque and using the site for other community activities. Instead, Council is directing city administration to consider maintaining “a similar community use of the Dease Pool property” and put together a more detailed plan to commemorate the legacy of the pool.
