World class.
That was the buzzword during the grand opening celebration of the Spray Lake Family Sports Centre expansion held over the weekend.
Political dignitaries, facility sponsors, community personalities and local athletes were all on hand to express their congratulations to the town and to praise the new amenities – including the Jayman BUILT Aquatic Centre, Phillips Curling Centre and Fireside Fitness Centre.
While the budgetary issues that resulted in a $3-million cost overrun on the construction of the expansion has been a sore spot for some and a campaign issue for candidates seeking election this October, the negatives were easy to forget among the celebration in what is truly a remarkable facility.
Hundreds took the weekend as a chance to tour the expanded centre and get a peek at some of programs available. There was also a chance to get involved in a number of the fundraising activities to support Rock the Waves, which is nearing half of it $10-million goal to help cover costs of the new pool.
From a massive curling complex to Olympic quality pool, the expansion is bright and clean and extremely welcoming. The benefits of the expansion are more than skin deep however and were emphasized by guest speaker Connor Matthezing, a university level swimmer with the Calgary Dinos.
The high-level athlete took to the podium to not only pay tribute to the old Big Hill Pool but also highlight how a facility such as the new aquatic centre would have allowed him to train at home – instead of commuting to the city.
For athletes such as Matthezing, the new facility is an opportunity to develop and grow at home, which has both financial and emotional benefits.
Our new curling centre will also be a boon to that sport and has the potential to foster the development of top-level curlers.
The new facility is not just an opportunity for athletes, but the community as a whole. An Olympic-size pool and additional curling sheets gives the sports centre the ability to host provincial and national level events.
Many of those events mean economic spinoffs to the community due to an influx of participants and spectators who spend money at hotels, restaurants and other businesses.
Yes, there are lessons to be learned from the SLSFSC expansion to help with future major projects, but in the end the new facility will be a benefit to the entire community.
