INNISFAIL – Citizens concerned with the universal change room policy at the modernized Innisfail Aquatic Centre had their chance this week to ask questions and address their misgivings to Town of Innisfail officials and project architects.
It was also an opportunity for citizens who support the controversial initiative to give their big thumbs up.
The start of the $14.9 million modernization project began on July 7 with the project being built by Chandos Construction and Group2 Architecture.
Construction is expected to last nine months.
The Town of Innisfail hosted its first of two planned public open houses for the modernization project at the Innisfail Library/Learning Centre on Tuesday, Aug. 19 from 4 to 7 p.m.
The public is also invited to add more input into the project at the Fall Registration Night on Sept. 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Innisfail Twin Arena.
There will also be a second public open house in the week of Sept. 15. An exact date and time have not yet been released by the town.
In advance of the open house on Aug. 19, the Town of Innisfail had just released updated project information on its involve.innisfail.ca website, including three artist renderings of what the new 232-square-metre universal change room and adjacent area will ultimately look like when the 38-year-old recreation facility is reopened for public use in the spring of 2026.
Town of Innisfail council members had an opportunity to look at preliminary artist representations from a report by Meghan Jenkins, director of community services, at their regular meeting on Aug. 11.
“A picture is always worth a million words, and I think these renderings, as well as the others that we will have relative to the exterior, will be extremely helpful,” said Coun. Janice Wing. “Just having that clear picture in people's heads around how things are located and how you access will be much clearer.”
Coun. Dale Dunham agreed by saying it will help many people with the “visual aspect of the unknown” and what some citizens are finding “intimidating" and what they are “fearful of.”
Dunham also praised administration with its updates on involve.innisfail.ca, adding it is helping many people to get a better understanding of the project.
“I think it really serves our community well to have those updates,” said Dunham.
Following Jenkins’ report, which included a full update on current construction, council unanimously approved it as information.
