MP Brad Vis starts online petition to get more federal funding for new Agassiz aquatic centre

In his petition, Vis suggests the government of Canada has been receptive to funding flexibility when it comes to projects in rural communities, particularly in support of reconciliation. He also says Indigenous families living on-reserve in the areas surrounding Agassiz utilize many of the services in the community and would be well-served by the aquatic centre.

Meanwhile, the District of Kent says it has received written support for the project from such surrounding communities as Seabird Island, Cheam First Nation, Skawahlook, Popkum and Peters First Nation, Village of Harrison Hot Springs, and Fraser Valley Electoral Areas C and D.

The District of Kent says it will contribute $6.4 million towards the estimated $20 million cost of building the Lets’emot Regional Aquatic Centre. However, this estimate appears to have significantly increased.

According to minutes from its meeting on Monday, January 23, the District of Kent will pitch in $4.4 million from the city’s Community Works Fund and $2 million from its general capital reserve.

“In a continued effort to remain transparent and reinforce their commitment to the building of the Lets’emot Regional Aquatic Centre, Council has approved updating the large fundraising signs located outside the Community Recreation and Cultural Centre, at Pioneer Park, and the new Visitor Kiosk, to reflect the District’s contribution of $6.4 million,” the District of Kent wrote on its website.

The District of Kent has been eyeing a new regional aquatic centre for some time now, but the municipality still needs more funding based on the assumption that it receives a maximum grant of $10 million from the federal and provincial governments.

The municipality continues to seek additional funding opportunities from other levels of government as well as fundraising opportunities, it wrote on its website. A fundraising committee meets regularly to plan community events to help the District reach its community fundraising goal of $1 million.

“Mayor (Sylvia) Pranger expressed her gratitude to the various government agencies that have already granted funds and mentioned that more grant applications are underway,” the district said online.

The town’s beloved Ferny Coombe Outdoor Pool, located at 6820 Pioneer Avenue, was built in 1978 and has remained a vital community asset in the District of Kent. It is also home to the Agassiz-Harrison Aquanauts competitive swim club.

The new aquatic centre will be a 27,000-square foot facility, connected to the Community Recreation & Cultural Centre, and feature such indoor amenities as an eight-lane lap pool, leisure pool, whirlpool, steam and sauna, spectator viewing area, activity space, community room, lifeguard station, and universal and gender-specific change rooms,

by Mike Vanden Bosch

MP Brad Vis starts online petition to get more federal funding for new Agassiz aquatic centre

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