The push to save Happyland Pool continues into the summer

After city council voted down a proposal to save Happyland Pool in early May, it remains vacant with just a sign saying the pool is closed, leaving many wondering when it will be demolished, as the Saint Boniface Residents Association continues its push to save the pool.

Happyland Pool was one of many pools set to be replaced or shut down in the city’s four-year budget.

The City said the pool had low attendance and issues attracting lifeguards, leading to the community services committee voting down the plan three to one.

The decision was frustrating to those who compiled over 2,000 signatures to keep it open.

“This pool there’s nothing wrong with it, it does not need major repairs and it could be open, even for the one year that we asked, but they would rather demolish it than let the people use it,” said Teresa Cwik, the president of the South St Boniface Residents Association.

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Cwik, says they were told the operating costs were around $80,000. Prompting them to take matters into their own hands, by raising $85,000 to keep it open for one more year. But it wasn’t until the vote, that city admin told councillors that operating costs for the season would be double.

“I believe that they thought we would never get that $85,000 so they hiked up the price to $90,000 then it was $100,000 on top of that, it does not cost $100,000 dollars to open a pool,” explained Cwik.

Cwik asked the City for a breakdown of these estimates but did not get a response. She claims a meeting with the mayor was denied, and never heard back from the province. She remains hopeful they will change their mind.

“They have money to give $23 million on top of the $71 to Waverly West. Their reconsidering the cutbacks to the groups that were protesting the other day and we offered to give them $85,000 for the operating costs.”

Area city councillor Matt Allard said in a statement that new information from the public service, confirmed the councils’ decision to stick to the course and keep Happyland Pool closed, so they can pursue consultations for a new pool in St. Boniface, similar in scale to the Transcona Aquatic Facility.

The City did not provide a timeline on when the pool could be demolished.