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Complex will be open on statutory holidays

City council gave its green light to the recreation complex’s pool and fitness centre to continue being open on statutory holidays.

City council gave its green light to the recreation complex’s pool and fitness centre to continue being open on statutory holidays, after receiving a recommendation from the Central Cariboo/City of Williams Lake Joint Committee.

The pool and fitness centre will be open for three and a half hours on Wrestling Day, Victoria Day, B.C. Day, Thanksgiving Day and Remembrance Day.

In a report to the committee, manager of active living Deb Radolla noted the cost of opening the facility on statutory holidays costs the centre about $2,600 in 2012.

“Four staff are scheduled on statuary holidays and Sundays: two lifeguards, one cashier and one facility maintenance. The expenses are solely staff wages and do not include electricity, chemicals, cleaning supplies or facility maintenance costs to clean the facility following the stat.”

Radolla also said on average stat holiday openings cost approximately 60 to 70 per cent more to operate than on comparable “average day” swims because of the need to pay union staff overtime for those shifts and less use on those days.

At the regular city council meeting June 4, Coun. Surinderpal Rathor said he was happy about the decision to keep the complex open on those days.

Three years ago the community requested that the complex be open on statutory holidays, he explained.

“The success of the pool being open, as far as money goes, has had its ups and downs, but we’re not here to make money,” Rathor said, adding the cost of keeping the facility open on holidays is worth it.

All council members voted in favour of the recommendation, with the exception of Coun. Danica Hughes, who was opposed.



Monica Lamb-Yorski

About the Author: Monica Lamb-Yorski

A B.C. gal, I was born in Alert Bay, raised in Nelson, graduated from the University of Winnipeg, and wrote my first-ever article for the Prince Rupert Daily News.
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