Bid for major federal funding for new Bonnyville swimming pool to be known soon

The long standing desire to have a new aquatic facility could get some positive news shortly.

Bonnyville town council hopes to hear “any day” about whether their federal grant application is successful.

This Green and Inclusive Community Buildings grant is a major lever in the Town’s plan to build a brand new pool at the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre.

“I think council is probably the most excited to find out the answer. We don’t have it yet,” said Deputy Mayor Neil Langridge on The Morning After on Wednesday. “We’re expected to hear pretty much any day.” 

Mayor Elisa Brosseau had hinted in the previous few months the dollar figure could be in the $25-30M range if they are successful. The Town has been setting aside significant money through ID 349 in anticipation of building an aquatic centre.

Not getting the grant puts them in a difficult position. Getting the grant starts the clock to look for other funding sources from the province and municipal partners like the M.D. of Bonnyville.

“There’s a lot of things that have to fall in place, even if we do get it. The Aquatic Center was our hopes as council to be our legacy project. And as we know, time moves very quickly and we’re already in the second half of our term. But we’re really pushing that even if it’s not completed, we want to see an aquatic center built in some form in the town, at least commenced to be built, before we’re done,” said Langridge. 

The cost of new infrastructure has increased dramatically in the past four years. While original pricetags before COVID were in the $20-25 million range, Lac La Biche County’s new facility crested to $46 million.

In January 2022, RC + Perc Strategies and BR2 Architecture presented their feasibility study to council.

Now, the final cost is dependant on all the amenities the Town wants with a swimming pool. But a lot rides on this federal grant.

“Anybody that’s been trying to build, retail or commercial or even residential, know what costs of building and construction are right now. They continue to go up and up. I know our friends to the north in Lac La Biche are in the same spot trying to build an aquatic center and their costs continue to inflate. And so we need that federal money to definitely help. Then we’re going to see what we can do once once we get the yay or the nay.”

The Morning After with Deputy Mayor Neil Langridge