Boasting the largest hot tub in Canada and five other water features, the aquatic centre at Minoru Centre for Active Living is set to open in just over a week, albeit with reduced capacity because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While construction of the entire Minoru Centre for Active Living facility was delayed by almost two years, the aquatic centre at the Minoru Centre for Active Living was further delayed by another 18 months after a crack was found in one of the lap pools and it needed to be rebuilt.
The aquatic centre, co-located with a new seniors centre and a new fitness centre, has a 7,000-square-foot leisure pool featuring a mega drop bucket, a rapid-flowing river channel, a slide and an errant rain cloud shower.
The two 25-metre lap pools with 14 lanes will allow for recreational and lane swimming, as well as aquafit classes.
There is also an over-water climbing wall, a drop slide and a diving board.
In keeping with COVID-19 protocols, pre-registration will be required for 75-minute swim sessions at the aquatic centre.
The centre was originally supposed to open about three years ago, and several civil lawsuits and counter-lawsuits have been filed to determine if someone was at fault for the delays.
In early February, the construction company, Stuart Olson, launched a suit against the City of Richmond, claiming the city’s actions caused two years of delay in the $84-million project. The builder demanded $7 million in compensation.
The city, however, contends Stuart Olson was paid $6 million to manage the project and that the city relied on its advice in making decisions on the project.
None of these claims have been proven in court.
The seniors centre opened in March 2019 and the fitness centre opened in January 2020. The seniors centre is currently closed because of COVID-19 restrictions except for takeout lunches, and the fitness centre reopened a few weeks ago.
Watermania is also opening up but only for training for groups such as swim clubs.
Register online or by phone
The aquatic centre will be open starting Monday, Sept. 21 from 6 a.m. to 10:15 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. on Sunday and statutory holidays.
A hundred people will be allowed in the pool at a time, including drop-ins.
The fitness centre will also be open to the public on a pre-registration basis for the same hours as the aquatic centre.
There will be limited drop-in spaces at the aquatic centre at each session on a first-come first-served basis.
Registration begins on Monday, Sept. 14 at 10 a.m.
To register, either go online to richmond.ca/register using a MyRichmond account - new accounts can be set up in advance – or call the Registration Call Centre at 604-276-4300.
Registration for the following week’s session will be available as of 10 a.m. the Monday before.
Recreation Access Card holders and Recreation Fee Subsidy users are asked to call the Registration Call Centre to book a swim session.
