Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / PML / District of Kent Mayor Sylvia Pranger (left) receives a hug from a well wisher Saturday after she walked 26 kilometres from Agassiz's Municipal Hall to the Chilliwack Coliseum. She arrived at 1:19 p.m. Saturday as part of an effort to raise publicity about Agassiz's need for a new indoor acquatic centre. Approximately $20,000 was raised prior to Mayor Pranger's walk Saturday.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Kent Mayor Sylvia Pranger walks 26 kms

With a great attitude, Mayor Pranger completes 26-km walk Saturday for new Agassiz pool

Apr 22, 2023 | 3:24 PM

CHILLIWACK — After walking 26 kilometres Saturday, District of Kent mayor Sylvia Pranger maintained a stellar attitude and a joyful smile all the way to the so-called finish line at the Chilliwack Coliseum Saturday.

Pranger, who was unopposed in the October 2022 municipal election and acclaimed for a four-year term, was presented with a massive bouquet of flowers after she arrived in the parking lot of the Coliseum at 1:19 p.m. Saturday following a 26-km trek to raise publicity around Agassiz’s need for an indoor aquatic centre.

“I can do 10 more (kms) maybe, but I’d rather not,” Pranger said with a smile following the event. “This walk is to highlight [how] Agassiz and the area really needs an aquatic centre, a year-round facility. I’m hopeful that this will bring lots of attention to it so that people will get on the bandwagon and support the pool, just the whole community. It’s a community event. People were blowing their horns, waving. People actually stopped to give money. It was kind of fun. It was great.”

As for any advice she would offer to anyone that wants to walk 26 kms, Pranger said, “Change your shoes at least once. But it was fun, and it was so good to have Mayor Popove join us and (FVRD CAO) Jennifer Kinneman and her husband; they walked the whole way with us. My daughter-in-law (was there).”

Mayor Popove, easily the most recognizable elected official in Chilliwack, joined Pranger with his wife and grandson at Portage Park northeast of downtown Chilliwack and relished the well wishes from spectators.

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Image: Lets’emot Regional Aquatic Centre / District of Kent (Agassiz) Mayor Sylvia Pranger (second from left) stands with Mayor Ken Popove (right) after her 26-kilometre walking trek from Agassiz to Chilliwack Saturday to raise awareness of Agassiz’s need for a new acquatic centre. Mayor Popove joined Mayor Pranger at Portage Park in Chilliwack for the final stretch of her impressive walk.

“We walked [Mayor Pranger] right in with good conversation,” Popove said. “We patted her on the back for a job well done. Her pace was like my pace, I was impressed. She’s spry. You did awesome. People were tooting their horns as they passed us. You know, we’re neighbouring communities and we need to work together.”

The District of Kent wrote on Facebook Saturday: “Over 26 kms later, and they have made it to the finish line. Thank you to all of the walkers, the volunteers and everyone that cheered them on. Congratulations to Mayor Pranger for all the work she put into this event. Final totals will be announced in the near future. Prior to the walk, approximately $20,000 was raised!”

The proposed regional aquatic center will be named Lets’emot Regional Aquatic Centre.

“The District believes in working collectively to strengthen our community to community relationships and to promote reconciliation in building the Lets’emot Regional Aquatic Centre together,” Pranger said.

The Lets’emot Regional Aquatic Centre will be a future hub for recreation and will promote accessibility, inclusion, and social connection, to ensure that everyone feels welcome to use the facility.

“We look forward to continuing to work together with our partner communities on fundraising and promotion for the Lets’emot Regional Aquatic Centre,” the district wrote. “Latset q’ép and let’s fill the pool!”

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.

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. 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 has previously 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, and lifeguard station.

by Mike Vanden Bosch

With a great attitude, Mayor Pranger completes 26-km walk Saturday for new Agassiz pool

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