Lumsden and Area Aquatic Facility Proposal

Lumsden & Area 

Aquatic Facility 

Proposal Report 

Lumsden Aquatic Facility Proposal Report | 1

Executive Summary 

In 2021, the Town of Lumsden surveyed residents to gauge interest in an aquatic facility. 

There was enough positive interest from the residents of Lumsden to warrant an 

examination of the feasibility of a public pool, and the Lumsden Aquatic Facility Advisory 

Committee (LAFAC) was formed by a group of resident volunteers, town council 

members and the town Community Coordinator. 

The LAFAC conducted preliminary research and discussed recommendations about a new 

aquatic facility in Lumsden. This report summarizes that information so the town council 

can make an informed decision about the feasibility of building a public pool and the 

costs involved. An aquatic facility would be a viable and positive option for the Town of 

Lumsden and surrounding area. There are many benefits it would provide to the 

community. Lumsden has a excellent track record for fundraising and successful 

implementation of projects like this. 

Outdoor pools are most common for communities this size, and capital and operational 

budgets are attainable. Indoor pools are less common for communities of this size but 

they offer the benefit of year-round use and provides valuable indoor space for physical 

activity in the dead of winter. An indoor pool has a high operating budget and would be 

difficult to fund through taxation alone. If a strong sentiment from the public exists to 

build an indoor facility, the fundraising load increases and an alternate business model 

would need to be considered to make it sustainable long-term. 

A future community pool would need to consider multiple factors including future 

development, future recreational facilities, and interdependancies. Integrating this 

information into a Parks and Recreation Master Plan is important. Its critical to conduct 

community enagement activites to ensure buy-in and acceptance of the project moving 

forwards. With this in mind the research conducted by this committee supported 

proceeding to the next steps for building a community pool. 

Estimated Capital Construction Costs 

Outdoor Pool Indoor Pool 

Description 

($355/sq. ft.) ($432/sq. ft.) 

Large Pool $4.3 million $14.6 million Pool size: 7,000 sq. ft. 

Total Area 22,800 sq. ft. 

Medium Pool $3.5 million $10 million Pool size: 4,700 sq. ft. 

Total Area: 10,000 sq. ft. 

Small Pool $2.8 million $7.5 million Pool size: 3,650 sq. ft. 

Total Area: 8,505 sq. ft. 

Lumsden Aquatic Facility Proposal Report | i

Estimated Operational Costs 

Annual Operating Revenues and Costs* 

Outdoor 

Indoor 

Revenue $62,000 $209,000 

Costs $156,000 $576,000 

Net ($94,000) ($367,000) 

*Based on 2019 numbers for towns of similar size. 2020 numbers were not used because 

COVID-19 affected revenues. The revenue does not include fundraising, grants or 

municipal contributions. 

Property Tax Funding Scenario 

If the net shortfall were funded by property tax only. 

Annual Property Tax Impacts 

Outdoor 

Indoor 

Town Funded Only 

Percentage increase in tax 

revenue required 

$ increase 

5.31% 20.73% 

% increase 

(Overall tax bill, 

not municipal 

portion only) 

$ increase 

% increase 


not municipal 

portion only) 

Property Type 

Average Agriculture $31.33 4.49% $122.30 17.53% 

Average Residential $124.60 3.35% $486.44 13.08% 

Average Commercial $163.05 3.26% $636.55 12.71% 

Town and R.M. Funded (50/50 Split) 



$ increase 

2.65% 10.37% 

% increase 


not municipal 

portion only) 

$ increase 

% increase 


not municipal 

portion only) 

Property Type 

Average Agriculture $15.63 2.24% $61.18 8.77% 

Average Residential $62.18 1.67% $243.34 6.54% 

Average Commercial $81.37 1.62% $318.43 6.36% 

Lumsden Aquatic Facility Proposal Report | ii

Potential Sites 

There were several sites to consider for an aquatic facility. Generally, land on East 

Qu’Appelle Drive (southwest of the Qu’Appelle Valley Nordic Centre), a remediation of 

the “Old Esso” site (across from Thr3e Clothing/Wiid – south side of 2nd Avenue), and the 

land behind Heritage Home (current off-leash dog park) scored well for either option. 

When considering an outdoor pool, River Park and Lions Park (west side – near Lake 

Street) scored favourably. For an indoor pool, an area beside the wastewater treatment 

plant and the south Lumsden development (on top of the hill) scored favourably. 

Lumsden Aquatic Facility Proposal Report | iii

Table of Contents 

Contents 

Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................ i 

Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................................... 4 

Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 5 

Consultation .................................................................................................................................................. 7 

Benefits ......................................................................................................................................................... 8 

Preliminary Facility Concepts ........................................................................................................................ 9 

Funding Sources and Potential Partners ..................................................................................................... 12 

Site Selection ............................................................................................................................................... 14 

Outdoor locations ....................................................................................................................................... 16 

Indoor locations .......................................................................................................................................... 16 

Population and Demographic Analysis ....................................................................................................... 17 

Best Practices and Trends in Aquatic Services Delivery .............................................................................. 20 

Preliminary Facility Program ....................................................................................................................... 22 

Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 23 


Introduction 

Over the past several years, the idea of a public pool in the Town of Lumsden has been floated around 

only for it to sink before coming ashore. The town's needs have changed dramatically over the past few 

years, with more young people under 15 living in the town and growing public demands. Also, the types 

of amenities and supports requested in an aquatic facility can only be found in Regina, more than 30 

kilometres away. An aquatic facility would contribute to our quality of life and make Lumsden a more 

vibrant and attractive place to live, work and visit. 

In 2022, the summer swim program had more than 300 children take part in swimming lessons in 

privately owned pools. Every spring, the town’s community coordinator faces the challenge of finding 

enough households willing to give up their pool for a few summer weeks for the program. Someday the 

town may have to turn some children away because there are not enough private pools to 

accommodate them, and children may miss learning valuable life skills. 


The Lumsden Aquatic Facility Advisory Committee (LAFAC) was formed by a group of resident 

volunteers, town council members and the town Community Coordinator to examine the feasibility of a 

public pool. 

The LAFAC examined trends in aquatic facility design and potential facility siting. Through debate, 

discussion and consideration about the community needs, the LAFAC produced recommendations 

needed to balance community demand and budget realities faced by the town. This was not easy, and 

the volunteer committee members did a great job. 

This report is the first phase in building an aquatic facility in Lumsden. It presents the research 

undertaken, preliminary concepts and the LAFAC’s recommendations. The findings in this report will 

inform the Town of Lumsden’s decisions on moving forward with the project. 

There are multiple steps to move the project forward, which will include: 

• approval from the Town of Lumsden councillors; 

• further concept design development (with input from the community of Lumsden); and 

• approval on facility costs, and the willingness of the town and surrounding communities to pay 

for key elements of the facility. 


Consultation 

Household Survey 

The Town of Lumsden conducted a community-wide survey to gauge interest in adding an outdoor 

swimming pool to Lumsden’s recreational amenities. The survey was conducted in fall 2021. 

In total, 406 responses (286 Town of Lumsden residents and 120 R.M. of Lumsden residents) were 

gathered from 1,558 households (26 percent response rate). 

Current Assessment 

First, respondents were asked about their interest in Lumsden building and operating an outdoor pool. 

As illustrated in the following graph, almost three-quarters of the respondents (72 percent) are at least 

somewhat interested in a pool. 

What is your level of interest in the Town building and operating an outdoor pool? 

Second, respondents were asked about their interest in increasing municipal taxes to subsidize the pool. 

As illustrated in the following graph, 62 percent of the respondents are at least somewhat interested in 

increasing municipal taxes for a pool. 

Would you be agreeable to a municipal tax increase to subsidize the building and operational 

costs of the pool? 


Benefits 

There are several benefits of building a pool for Lumsden and surrounding communities, including: 

1. Improved health and fitness: Having a pool available for public use can provide community 

members with a convenient and accessible way to exercise, which can help improve overall 

health and fitness. 

2. Social benefits: Swimming and aquatic activities can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and can 

provide opportunities for socialization and build community. 

3. Economic benefits: Building a pool can create jobs for the community, and it can also increase 

property values. A community pool will provide work opportunities for local youth that are in 

scarce supply in town. People will likely stay in town longer during summer break and in turn 

utilize local businesses more. 

4. Educational opportunities: Pools can be used for swimming lessons, water safety training and 

other educational programs. There is a strong opportunity to build parternships with the local 

highschool and elementary related to water safety and sport programs. Pools can also be used 

for other educational classes such a scuba diving. 

5. Access to recreation: A pool can provide a recreational option for community members, 

particularly during hot summer months. There is also an opportunity for swim clubs and aquatic 

exercise classes. 

6. Increased tourism: A pool can attract visitors to the community, which can have economic 

benefits for local businesses. People may come from rural and surrounding communities for 

lessons, swimming, birthday parties, or events. They will be prone to eat at local restaurants, 

pick-up groceries, buy gas or support other local businesses. 

7. Drowning prevention: Pools can help prevent drowning by providing a safe and supervised 

location for swimming. Water safety education is a great deterent in preventing risky behaviour 

that leads to drowning. 

8. Therapy: Pools can be used for physical therapy and rehabilitation. 

9. Emergency and rescue training: Pools can be used for training emergency responders and 

lifeguards in water rescue techniques. 


Preliminary Facility Concepts 

Capital Estimates 

Large Pool 

(low end) 

Large Pool 

(high end) Medium Pool Small Pool 

Usable pool size (sq. ft.) 6,300 7,000 4,700 3,650 

Estimated area for pool (sq. ft.) 14,000 22,800 10,000 8,505 

Estimated area for lot (sq. ft.) 29,000 44,688 12,000 20,328 

Capital costs 

Basic pool $2,236,500 $2,485,000 $1,668,500 $1,295,750 

Outbuilding $350,000 $350,000 $350,000 $350,000 

Site prep $450,000 $450,000 $450,000 $250,000 

Landscaping and security $200,000 $200,000 $150,000 $150,000 

Add-ons 

Hot tub $25,000 $25,000 $25,000 $25,000 

Slide (advanced+) $200,000 $200,000 $150,000 $150,000 

Contingency (25%) $865,375 $927,500 $698,375 $555,188 

Total outdoor $4,326,875 $4,637,500 $3,491,875 $2,775,938 

Indoor adder ($400/sq. ft.) $6,160,000 $10,032,000 $5,280,000 $3,740,000 

Contingency (25%) $1,540,000 $2,508,000 $1,320,000 $935,000 

Total indoor $12,026,875 $17,177,500 $10,091,875 $7,450,938 


Operational Costs 

The LAFAC surveyed many communities to get their annual operating costs and revenue. Due to COVID, 

using the most recent years’ numbers were not relevant, so we used 2019 costs and revenue amounts. 

The largest annual expense was staffing, which was about 60 percent of the annual costs. The pool's 

size, design and features also affect the number of staff needed to run it. 

For the outdoor pools, we used two new pools that opened in the last five years as comparable. An 

older pool's operating costs are lower; however, they lack the attractive and safe modern pool features. 

The average population of the communities with outdoor pools is 1,617, which also makes them 

comparable to the present population of the Town of Lumsden. 

For indoor pools, we compared three from smaller communities, not cities. The pools generally had a 

waterslide, toddler area and lap pool that many people could use. The average population of the 

communities with indoor pools is 4,768, which is a good comparison for the future Town of Lumsden 

[see the Population and Demographic Analysis section]. 

Annual Operating Revenues and Costs* 

Outdoor 

Indoor 

Revenue $62,000 $209,000 

Costs $156,000 $576,000 

Net ($94,000) ($367,000) 

*Based on 2019 numbers for towns of similar size. 2020 numbers were not used because COVID-19 

affected revenues. The revenue does not include fundraising, grants or municipal contributions. 

A main concern is how the Town of Lumsden will pay for a pool. Using the annual costs above, we 

calculated the annual property tax impact on the town's property tax classes. We included two 

scenarios: one to show the impacts if the town paid for the pool alone and another if it shared the costs 

50/50 with another municipality (e.g. the R.M. of Lumsden). 

The table below shows how much extra tax the town requires without affecting other services. The 

dollar increase shows the amount for each property for the municipal portion of their taxes. The 

percentage increase shows their total tax bill, including school taxes. This number will resonate with 

residents, even though only their municipal portion would increase. 


Hypothetical Property Tax Impacts 

Outdoor 

Indoor 

Town Funded Only 



$ increase 

5.31% 20.73% 

% increase 


not municipal 

portion only) 

$ increase 

% increase 


not municipal 

portion only) 

Average Agriculture Property $31.33 4.49% $122.30 17.53% 

Average Residential Property $124.60 3.35% $486.44 13.08% 

Average Commercial 

Property 

$163.05 3.26% $636.55 12.71% 

Town and R.M. Funded (50/50 Split) 



$ increase 

2.65% 10.37% 

% increase 


not municipal 

portion only) 

$ increase 

% increase 


not municipal 

portion only) 

Average Agriculture Property $15.63 2.24% $61.18 8.77% 

Average Residential Property $62.18 1.67% $243.34 6.54% 

Average Commercial 

Property 

$81.37 1.62% $318.43 6.36% 

Projecting future growth and costs can be hard to predict; but, if we use the Joint Growth Strategy 

projections, the Town of Lumsden is expected to grow between 1.4 and three percent per year. We can 

also apply the 2.6 people per household used in the Joint Growth Strategy. 

Inflation can be hard to predict, too. While it is high now, the Bank of Canada aims to keep inflation 

between one and three percent. 

If we assume the high-end scenario of three percent inflation, the table below shows the percentage of 

total taxes a pool would cost as the population grows, based on the two growth scenarios. 


The following table assumes an increase in residential property tax only. A safe assumption is that as the 

population grows, the commercial tax base will also grow. With that assumption, the population growth 

in either scenario should be able to maintain a pool, and the three percent population increase would 

likely decrease overall costs to the municipality over time. 

Outdoor pool: % Of Taxes 

Indoor pool: % Of Taxes 

1.40% 3.00% 1.40% 3.00% 

2022 5.31% 5.31% 20.73% 20.73% 

2027 5.77% 5.37% 22.53% 20.95% 

2032 6.27% 5.42% 24.49% 21.15% 

2037 6.81% 5.46% 26.60% 21.32% 

Funding Sources and Potential Partners 

In preparing for fundraising, we expect the sequence below to be followed: 

1. Town approval of proposed aquatic centre 

2. Fundraising plan activated 

3. 50 percent of total cost raised 

4. Break ground 

5. Remaining 50 percent of total cost fundraised/mortgaged, etc. 

6. Long-term fundraising plans activities 

Proposed Fundraising Plan 

There are three main ways we will fundraise for the potential aquatic centre. In the community survey 

completed on Dec. 3, 2021, there were 286 surveys completed and 120 R.M. residents filled out the 

survey online. Out of that group, 130 people said they were “very or somewhat interested” in 


participating in a volunteer committee to help plan and fundraise for a pool. We will contact those 

community members to help form our fundraising groups and find leaders for each area. 

Ideally, once approved, we would assign leaders responsible for these areas. 

● 

● 

● 

Federal and provincial grants 

Corporate and private sponsorship 

Community fundraising and partnership efforts 

Potential federal and provincial grant: 

● Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) 

● Canada Community Revitalization Fund 

Corporate and Private Sponsorship 

● Coop Community Spaces | Applications typically open 

February 

● FCC AgriSpirit Fund | Applications open April 2023 

● K+S, Youth + Us | Applications ongoing 

● Conexus Community Investment | 3 intake periods 

● South SK Community Foundation | Multiple grants 

listed 

Community Fundraising and Partnership Efforts 

Actions taken: 

The LAFAC contacted other community fundraising groups 

(Duck Derby, Lumsden Lions, rink board, etc.) to see if there is 

interest in combining fundraising efforts so that money could 

go to multiple sport and recreation initiatives. 

The LAFAC developed a survey to poll Lumsden elementary families (more than 550 people) about their 

use of pools, swimming lessons and general interest in an aquatic centre. 

Other suggested ideas: 

● Work with Prairie Valley School Division to develop a school-led swimming and water safety 

program 

● Online 50/50, using local partner Echo Lotto; 

● Legacy donations (from estates); 

● Fundraising efforts in surrounding R.M.s that will use the pool; and 

● Farmland donation: volunteers harvest and donate profits to initiative. 


Site Selection 

There were several sites to consider for an aquatic facility. After careful consideration of the pros and 

cons with each location option, the LAFAC decided on the ideal land locations listed below. These are 

recommendations only, and we believe community consultation and town involvement are important to 

land location selection. 

Either outdoor or indoor: 

● 

● 

● 

East Qu’Appelle Drive (southwest of the Qu’Appelle Valley Nordic Centre) 

“Old Esso” site (across from Thr3e Clothing/Wiid – south side of 2nd Avenue) - remediation 

Behind Heritage Home (current off-leash dog park) 

Specifically for an outdoor pool: 

● 

● 

River Park 

Lions Park (west side – near Lake Street) 

Specifically for an indoor pool: 

● 

● 

Beside wastewater treatment plant 

South Lumsden development (on top of the hill) 

Possible East Qu’Appelle Drive location 


Possible water treatment plant location 

Possible Lions Park location 


Outdoor locations 

Weight 

Pool Selection Criteria Scored 

Old Esso 

Heritage 

Home 

East 

QuAppelle 

Drive 

River Park 

Lions Park 

SE corner of 

the museum 

4 Size 4 5 5 1 5 1 

5 Cost/availability of land 3 4 5 5 5 5 

1 Available parking 1 2 1 4 3 2 

4 Possible addition of parking 5 3 5 4 3 2 

2 Existing facilities 0 0 0 5 3 0 

4 Neighbourhood 4 4 4 4 3 4 

2 Possible synergies 3 3.5 3 5 3 3 

1 Central location 5 4 1 3 5 4 

3 

Funding Opportunities 

(highlights for grants) 5 3 3 3 3 3 

Total Score 94 90 98 97 98 74 

Indoor locations 

Weight 

Pool Selection Criteria Scored 

Old Esso 

Heritage 

Home 

East 

QuAppelle 

Drive 

South Dev. 

Outdoor 

Rink 

Haryett 

Dev. 

Beside 

Distillery 

Beside 

WTP 

4 Size 4 5 5 5 1 5 5 5 

5 Cost/availability of land 3 4 5 3 5 2 1 5 

1 Available parking 1 2 1 5 2 5 5 5 

4 Possible addition of parking 5 3 5 5 0 5 5 5 

2 Existing facilities 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 

4 Neighbourhood 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 

2 Possible synergies 3 3.5 3 5 4 3 3 3 

1 Central location 5 4 1 2 5 2 2 2 

3 

Funding Opportunities 

(highlights for grants) 5 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 

Total Score 94 90 98 97 77 88 83 103 


Population and Demographic Analysis 

Population and Growth 

Both the town and R.M. have experienced positive growth over the past decade. 

Town of Lumsden 1 

2011 2021 

Population 1,631 1,800 

Population percentage change, 

2011-2021 

10.1 

Total private dwellings 626 732 

Age characteristics 

0-14 years 300 

(18.1% of total population) 

360 

(20% of total population) 

Percentage change, 2011-2021 20 

15-64 1,080 


1,075 


Percentage change, 2011-2021 -0.5 

65 years and over 245 


370 


Percentage change, 2011-2021 51 

These trends suggest that the town’s population is likely to continue to grow steadily in the coming 

years. It is also important to recognize that the town’s over-64 population is increasing quite rapidly (5.1 

percent per year from 2011-2021) and children 0-14 years old increased 2 percent per year, both of 

which will affect the demand for access to recreational amenities within the town. 

1 

2021 statistics from Statistics Canada’s “Focus on Geography Series, 2021 Census of Population” website: 

https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/as-sa/fogs-spg/Index.cfm?Lang=E. 2011 statistics from 

Statistics Canada archived content: https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dppd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4706056&Geo2=PR&Code2=01&Data=Count&SearchText=l 

umsden&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 


The Rural Municipality of Lumsden is showing even more growth. 

R.M. of Lumsden 2 

2011 2021 

Population 1,733 1,968 

Population percentage change, 

2011-2021 

13.6 

Total private dwellings 735 826 

Age characteristics 

0-14 years 305 


380 


Percentage change, 2011-2021 24.6 

15-64 1,205 


1,210 



65 years and over 215 


375 



Lumsden and the R.M. of Lumsden are expecting annual growth between 1.4 and 3 percent 3 , based on 

the number of new developments, vacant lots and the new wastewater treatment plant which can 

accommodate a population of approximately 3,700 people. 

That means by 2026, the Town of Lumsden’s population would increase to between 2,000 and 2,500. 

The R.M. population would increase to between 2,200 and 2,700. 

That is a minimum of 4,200 pool users in the area in four years – and that does not even count 

surrounding communities such as Craven, Disley and Deer Valley. 

These numbers are provided for context and projection purposes only, since population growth can be 

difficult to predict. 

2 

2021 statistics from Statistics Canada’s “Focus on Geography Series, 2021 Census of Population” website: 

https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/as-sa/fogsspg/page.cfm?topic=1&lang=E&dguid=2021A00054706053. 

2011 statistics from Statistics Canada archived 

content: https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dppd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4706053&Geo2=PR&Code2=01&Data=Count&SearchText=l 

umsden&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1. 

3 

Town of Lumsden Joint Growth Strategy Report, Associated Engineering (Sask.) Ltd. May 2015. 


Demographics 4 

Comparison of Age Cohorts as Percentage of Total Population, Lumsden and Saskatchewan 

Population of Lumsden: 1,800 

Population of R.M. of Lumsden: 1,968 

Total persons: 3,768 

Comparison of Economic and Demographic Statistics, Lumsden and Saskatchewan 

Characteristic 

Lumsden (including the 

R.M. of Lumsden) 

Saskatchewan 

Average household 

income* 

$98,000 $73,000 

Percentage of households 

earning on average 

$150,000* 

44.8% 10.9% 

* Based on 2020 total after-tax income of households in Lumsden, Lumsden No. 189 and Saskatchewan 

statistics 

The table outlines selected economic and demographic statistics for Lumsden, compared to figures 

calculated for Saskatchewan overall. Compared to provincial levels, households in Lumsden and the 

R.M. of Lumsden earn $25,000 more per year than other Saskatchewan households. 

4 

All statistics are from Statistics Canada’s “Focus on Geography Series, 2021 Census of Population” website: 

https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/as-sa/fogs-spg/Index.cfm?Lang=E 


Best Practices and Trends in Aquatic Services Delivery 

While the items presented below may be reflected to various degrees in a new aquatic centre in 

Lumsden, they do present a snapshot that reflects both expectations of the public when it comes to 

these types of facilities as well as aquatic facility planning. This section identifies preliminary concepts. 

Change Room Design 

Change rooms will continue to transform as societal norms change. These changes reflect fiscal realities. 

Some efficiencies can be gained through staffing costs as a single gender can monitor all change facilities 

(if structured that way). Others can be considered revenue generation. 

● 

● 

● 

Accessibility: some of this can be captured in response to pertinent construction codes, such as ADA 

Standards for AccessibleDesign, the Canadian Standards Association and the National Building Code 

of Canada. This can refer to ensuring that people of all abilities can fully use the different elements 

of the change rooms. These points relate to facility design too. 

Universal only, gender neutral: there are several ways to build this type of change room. With this 

concept there are not separate male and female change rooms. Rather, there is a large open room 

with lockers for storage. Often these spaces are visible in the pool, affecting locker safety. There are 

separate and private areas to accommodate actual changing and showering. This solution reflects 

the changing nature of gender in our society too. 

Hands free: health concerns abound, and hands-free design means there are fewer surfaces 

requiring people to touch them. This can be reflected in entrances and exits (maybe there are no 

doors) and touchless sinks, faucets, and dryers. 

Pool Tanks 

● 

● 

Temperatures: depending on the types of use for a pool, different temperatures are preferred. For 

tanks used for high activity (think swim clubs, etc.) a cooler pool is preferable. However, pools that 

serve a more leisure focus, a warmer temperature is preferred. It is common to have cool, warm and 

hot tanks for various uses. 

Accessibility: this is how people access the tanks. Tanks used to be only rectangular, with entry 

ladders or vertical stairs. Now, rectangular tank access is no longer limited to ladders or vertical 

steps. Instead, there are gradual steps in tanks or ramps that go into tanks. This ensures a broader 

community can easily access the tanks, including the young and old and those with mobility 

challenges. 

Water Features 

● 

● 

● 

Skill development: these are often associated with training and clubs. These components can vary 

but are important in developing certain skills. Elements can simply be deep water. To facilitate 

synchronized swimming for example (and other sports) deep water is needed. Starting blocks, 

underwater sound, timing pads, and so on are elements that hasten skill development. 

Resistant training (moving water): water can be therapeutic. More specifically, using moving water 

to build strength and endurance is becoming more mainstream in public facilities. While these river 

types of amenities are generally viewed as leisure elements, they also serve a health & fitness role. 

Person powered play: as components of leisure services, these types blend the fun and whimsical 

components of water play and add the person control element. These become more interactive 

when people must power and/or aim them. These might be water spray or other types of splash 

elements. 


● Diving: certainly not found in all aquatic centres, including springboards and/or dive platforms can 

offer a training element or – depending on the height – a leisure element. 

● Leisure pool components: while there is significant use in an aquatics centre from sport and exercise 

groups, mainstream use is driven by leisure components. These are not limited to children’s use. 

They include river elements, water slides, spray decks and features, hot tubs, and others. 

● Novelty items: while not common, some facilities include such items as flow riders or wave pools. 

Portable equipment can also provide leisure opportunities, including inflatables, slides and other 

toys. 

Complementary Services 

It is becoming more commonplace to “bundle” the amenities in aquatic centres so that the facility offers 

more than simply the pool. These can include spaces that directly support the in-water activities such as 

classroom space to facilitate training elements for water-based activities. Other services can be dryland 

training space (e.g. somewhere the swim club can do some warm-up and cool down exercises). Other 

complementary spaces include fitness areas and storage for activities and groups who make significant 

use of the aquatic facility. 

A pool could be part of a well-rounded recreational community in Lumsden, such as parks, baseball 

diamonds, hiking trails, camping, disc golf, Nordic skiing, pickleball, etc. 


Preliminary Facility Program 

A preliminary facility program was developed by the Lumsden Aquatic Facility Advisory Committee 

(LAFAC) through research and a committee discussion. 

Program space 

Description 

Rectangular tank/lap pool 

(Junior Olympic pool - 25m) 

● Swim lanes (6 or 8) 

● Lessons, lane swim, etc. 

● Deep end 

Lobby (indoor pool only) ● Building entrance 

● Access to control point 

● Enables some viewing of leisure pool 

Leisure pool ● Zero depth entry 

● Play and spray features (slides, diving boards, etc.) 

● Lazy river 

● 3 lanes of 25m 

● Splash deck (enables dry land and guard training; reduces guarding 

levels) 

Family viewing area ● Viewing to watch swim lessons 

● Some spectator viewing of 25m or 52m tank 

Hot tub ● Used by those from lane pool and leisure pool 

Multipurpose rooms 

(indoor pool only) 

● 

● 

Ability to have two rooms or one large room 

Accommodates courses, dryland warm-up, birthday parties 

Staff areas ● Administration spaces/offices 

● Staff room 

● First aid room 

● Facility access point 

Change rooms ● Universal design (able to accommodate all genders) 

Storage ● Pool equipment 

● Aquatic club equipment storage 

Mechanical ● Pool operation and equipment 

Canteen (optional) ● contract with local vendor to operate a canteen in the pool area 


Conclusion 

An aquatic facility would be a viable and positive option for the Town of Lumsden and surrounding area. 

There are many benefits it would provide to the community. Lumsden has a excellent track record for 

fundraising and successful implementation of projects like this. There is a strong volunteer base 

available and public sentiment is favourable. 

Outdoor pools are most common for communities this size and capital and operational budgets are 

attainable. An indoor pool, while less common, offers added benefits of year-round use and provides 

valuable indoor space for physical activity in the dead of winter. An indoor pool has high operating costs 

and would be difficult to fund through taxation alone. If a strong sentiment from the public exists to 

build an indoor facility, the fundraising load increases and an alternate business model would need to be 

considered to make it sustainable long- term. 

It was clear that any decisions surrounding a community pool would need to consider multiple factors 

including future development, future recreational facilities, and interdependancies. Integrating this 

information into a Parks and Recreation Master Plan is critical to ensure everything is considered and 

decisions are made based on the long term. With this in mind the research conducted by this 

committee supported proceeding to the next steps for building a community pool. 

Process 

Stage Gate Approvals: 

Approval for 

Consultant 

Approval to 

Procure 

Approval to 

Construct 

Initiation 

Community 

Need 

Initial Survey 

Feasibility 

Research 

alternatives 

Identify 

probable costs 

Location 

Criteria 

Funding 

Partners 

Community Engagement 

Parks and Rec 

Master Plan 

Community 

Workshop 

Location 

Selection 

Design 

Procurement 

Best value 

procurement 

(RFP) 

Design-Build 

Local vendor 

engagement 

Construction 

50% funds 

raised 

Timeline: 6 Months 6 Months 18-24 Months 

Next Steps 

Its critical to conduct community enagement activites to ensure buy-in and acceptance of the project 

moving forwards. A third-party consultant is the best option to facilitate this process which can include: 

• Workshops and Surveys 

• Finalize location and design requirements 

• Key stakeholder engagement (service organizations, schools, surrounding communities, 

government) 

• Integrated Parks and Recreation Master Plan 

• Aquatic Facility Detailed Proposal

Lumsden and Area Aquatic Facility Proposal

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