Since its inception in 2008, the South Cariboo Aquatic Society (SCAS) has been working towards having a public aquatic centre built in 100 Mile House.
The society’s focus so far has been providing public awareness for the need for a pool and the benefits to be gained by such a facility. What has stood in the way of tangible progress is money, which the SCAS envisions coming from taxpayers.
There are methodical, and necessary steps, which must be taken to arrive at that point, and while it’s been a long and uneventful five years of waiting for a door of opportunity to open, John Code, SCAS political liaison, is optimistic winds of change may be coming.
This month, the Cariboo Regional District will hold public information meetings regarding proposed restructuring of South Cariboo recreation, to broaden the definition of recreation services and extend the taxation boundary. The change would allow taxation support for local facilities, including Martin Exeter Hall and 100 Mile Soccer Park.
Support for a proposed aquatic centre is not included in the proposal, but possibility exists in a proposed second phase.
CRD board chair and Area G Director Al Richmond notes that at the April meetings, people will be asked for their vision for recreation, and what they want to see included.
“If the feeling is they want it to go to a referendum, we would proceed to do that, and look at a referendum in the fall.”
Richmond says the CRD has been working with the user groups under current consideration for more than a year and there’s a need to get their house in order with the existing groups before moving on to any others.
If public input indicates a pool is within its vision for recreation funding inclusion, he adds it will be acted on at a later time, but only if there is sufficient extension of the existing taxation boundary.
“In the next phase, we’ll discuss future possibilities, but right now, we’re taking it cautiously and making sure everyone knows what they’re voting on. We have to be sure everybody understands what is being discussed is funding for current services.”
Meanwhile Code says changes can’t come fast enough for the SCAS because his group is losing public interest.
“This has been dragging on for a long time and people are getting discouraged.”
He notes an aquatic centre is the one piece of the South Cariboo recreation picture that is missing.
” A pool will be built here one day, and I hope it’s sooner than later. We’re trying to get it to the point we can take it to referendum.”
The SCAS would like to see strong attendance at the public meetings, so people can learn about the changes required to maintain existing facilities and for the building of new ones. The society would also like to hear opinions from the public as to whether the SCAS should continue to strive towards attaining an aquatic centre.
Comments and suggestions can be directed to Code by contacting him at 250-395-1219.
