New Strathcona Gardens Aquatic Centre Celebrated with Official Ribbon Cutting

(Campbell River, BC) – The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) celebrated a major milestone on September 29 with the official ribbon cutting for the new Strathcona Gardens Aquatic Centre.

Members of the Strathcona Gardens Commission joined First Nations representatives, community partners, user groups and invited guests to celebrate the new facility. The event included a blessing by the Ligwiltach Elders and Youth Culture Group, remarks, an official ribbon cutting and tours of the new Aquatic Centre.

“This is about much more than the completion of a new building. It is about creating a place where people of every age and ability can come together to swim, compete, rehabilitate, learn, play and most importantly, build community,” said Strathcona Gardens Commission Chair Susan Sinnott. “On behalf of the Commission, I also want to recognize the current and former Commission and SRD Board members who helped move this vision forward over many years, along with our staff at Strathcona Gardens and the SRD Corporate Office who dedicated countless hours to planning and coordinating this project. Based on community feedback, it was important to us to keep the existing pool open and services running throughout construction, and our staff worked incredibly hard to make that possible. This has truly been a team effort, and we are incredibly proud to see this vision become a reality.”

A Major Milestone for REC-REATE

Strathcona Gardens has served the region for more than 50 years, with the original arena opening in 1972 and the main pool following in 1979. Planning for the renewal of the aging facility began more than a decade ago through the REC-REATE community engagement and planning process.

Following years of planning and design, construction on Phase 1 began in September 2024. Just over two years later, the new Aquatic Centre is complete.

The new Aquatic Centre was delivered on time and on budget – a significant achievement for a major infrastructure project, particularly amid rising construction costs and supply chain pressures.

Something for Everyone

The new Aquatic Centre represents a significant investment in recreation, health, wellness and quality of life for the region, providing expanded opportunities for residents of all ages and abilities.

New features include:

• an eight-lane, 25-metre lap pool with a one-metre springboard and climbing wall
• a leisure pool with beach entry, tot splash area and lazy river
• a dedicated wellness pool and hot pool 
• a waterslide (coming soon...)
• sauna and steam room
• improved universal and accessible change facilities
• improved accessibility throughout the facility
• and much more

Accessibility and inclusion were important considerations throughout the design, with improvements intended to make it easier for people with different abilities to access and enjoy the facility.

The new Aquatic Centre will support everything from swimming lessons, recreational swimming and competitive training to rehabilitation, therapy, fitness and wellness.

Get Ready to Make a Splash  - October 29

With construction of the Aquatic Centre complete, the SRD is awaiting the required Island Health operating permits before the pools can open for public swimming. In the meantime, Strathcona Gardens staff are completing final preparations and operational readiness, including specialized training for lifeguards to ensure they are ready to safely welcome the community.

Starting October 13, the SRD will offer public tours of the new Aquatic Centre, giving residents an opportunity to explore the facility and take photos and videos before the pools officially open. Once the Aquatic Centre is operational, electronic devices will not be permitted in the pool area. Tour registration opens October 5 at srd.ca/sgtours.

The new Aquatic Centre is scheduled to open for its first public swim on October 29. Information about opening activities, programs, schedules and opportunities to tour the new facility is available online at strathconagardens.com or from the Strathcona Gardens reception.

What's Next for REC-REATE?

Completion of the Aquatic Centre is a major milestone, but the renewal of Strathcona Gardens continues.

The next stage of Phase 1 will transform the former pool area into the new Fitness and Wellness Centre. The renewed space will bring fitness, wellness and rehabilitation services together on one floor and will include an expanded fitness centre, dedicated physiotherapy and rehabilitation space, gendered change rooms, an expanded reception and social area, additional multi-purpose spaces and further accessibility improvements.

The Fitness and Wellness Centre is anticipated to be complete in Summer 2027.

REC-REATE will then continue with Phase 2, including construction of a new third arena, expanded parking and improved access to Strathcona Gardens, with completion anticipated in Summer 2029.

The SRD thanks the community for its participation in shaping REC-REATE and for its patience throughout construction. After more than a decade of planning and two years of construction, the wait is almost over. Get ready to make a splash – we can’t wait to welcome the community to the new Strathcona Gardens Aquatic Centre on October 29!

More Information

• For project updates and information about the REC-REATE project, visit RecreateSG.ca
• Information about Strathcona Gardens programs, schedules and services is available at strathconagardens.com
• Follow the SRD and Strathcona Gardens social media channels for upcoming videos showcasing the new pools, accessibility improvements, facility features and what to expect when you arrive.

Photos (shown below)

• Ribbon Cutting (L to R) – SRD Board Chair Mark Baker, Strathcona Gardens Commissioners - Ron Kerr, Susan Sinnott (Chair), Cal Grunerud (community-at-large), Kermit Dahl and John Rice (Vice-Chair). 
• Ligwiltach Elders and Youth Culture Group Blessing
• Various photos inside and out of the New Aquatic Centre – please note the waterslide is not shown, as it will be installed in the coming days