The North Cariboo Joint Advisory Committee (consisting of the four Northern Directors of the Cariboo Regional District and Quesnel City Council) is planning on taking the much needed pool upgrade project to referendum prior to April 30, 2023. Yes, this project was already put to a referendum last year and failed by the narrowest margin, but this does not mean that the need to undertake this project has disappeared nor does it mean that the locally elected leadership cannot take it back to referendum again to seek a different outcome.
Quesnel’s aquatic center is forty years old and is in need of a major renovation and upgrade. The facility does not meet today’s standards for energy and water efficiency, accessibility, and people’s expectations for an aquatic center. This latter point is crucial to understand, as modern recreational amenities are a key consideration for attracting and retaining today’s workforce, families, and seniors to our community.
During the last referendum, much was said about the costs associated with this project and its “unaffordability.” The truth is that the costs cannot be avoided – either the facility gets upgraded and modernized as soon as possible or it will have to be replaced. Delaying this project only means more costs to ratepayers in the near future as prices are only escalating for both a renovation/modernization project and a replacement project.
In short, there is no way to avoid the costs associated with upgrading and modernizing our aquatic facility, so we simply need to get on with this project as soon as possible if we want to keep the costs as low as possible.
Another theme during the last referendum was that people don’t use the Recreation Center so why should they pay for it. This argument fails to consider that in any community there are many things that all ratepayers pay for but not all ratepayers use.
I don’t skate, but I was happy to say yes to the new arena when it went to referendum because I know how important a modern arena is to the overall health and vitality of our community. I don’t rodeo either, but love to see all the recent improvements to Alex Fraser Park. I no longer play soccer, but fully support the continued investment in the indoor and outdoor soccer complex. I love art in all its forms and would welcome the opportunity to make a major investment in a new facility to host this vital expression of both our community’s and visiting artists talents.
A modern, interesting, and attractive community needs the full range of amenities and infrastructure that people expect today, and ratepayers need to support this fulsome approach to community development if we want to ensure the sustainability and resiliency of our community for generations to come.
In advance of the upcoming second referendum on the pool project, the North Cariboo Joint Advisory Committee has directed Cariboo Regional District and City staff to engage with the public on the design aspects of the project that the referendum project will be based on. I hope you will take full advantage of these opportunities to engage with us during these sessions.
Online: letsconnectquesnel.ca/pool
Open House
June 1 | 4 – 7 pm
Arts and Recreation Centre, 500 N Star Rd
June 13 | 4 – 7 pm
École Red Bluff Lhtako Elementary, 1533 Maple Dr
June 15 | 4 – 7 pm
Bouchie Lake Hall, 1975 Centennial Rd
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