Fish out of water were happy to return to the Big Hill Leisure Pool as of Sept. 24, with the annual shutdown, which took place Sept. 1-23, finally reaching its end.
“We do a three-week annual shut down every year,” said John Napier, manager of the facility for the last two years, adding that while run-of-the-mill maintenance and deep cleaning is the main reason for the shutdown, staff decided to take advantage of the three-week period to “spruce things up”.
“We have this big, blank wall in the pool area that we’ve wanted to do something with — we wanted to put up something we could take with us when we eventually move,” he explained, with reference to the inevitable move to the new Cochrane Aquatic Centre, which is slated to begin fundraising in the coming months.
Former pool staff member Taygan Crapo joined forces with fellow Alberta College of Art and Design student Hayley Eidet to produce the 8x12-foot oil painting on masonite.
“It adds so much to this place,” said Napier.
Other news making a splash at the local facility include the recent change in the age that unsupervised children are allowed in the pool area; it used to be children under the age of six, but is now children under the age of eight — part of Big Hill’s commitment to the promotion of drowning prevention, parental awareness and overall safety.
Sad news includes the recent passing of Frank the Piranha; Critters Pets has since donated Tiny the Piranha to take over where Frank left off; online registration for winter programs will be available Oct. 29 at cochrane.ca.
