Image: Supplied by YMCA / Pools at the Cheam Centre and Chilliwack Landing Leisure Centre will be closed starting Monday, Sept. 12 while Fraser Health finalizes health approvals and operating permits. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Chilliwack YMCA

Pools at Cheam Leisure and Chilliwack Landing Centres to close Monday, Sept. 12 temporarily as YMCA takes over city leisure centres

Sep 10, 2022 | 9:36 AM

CHILLIWACK — In conjunction with the switchover from Recreation Excellence to the YMCA as the new municipal operator, the pools at the Cheam Leisure Centre and Chilliwack Landing Leisure Centre will be temporarily closed starting Monday, September 12.

The YMCA of Greater Vancouver posted the announcement on its website earlier this week to advise users of the temporary inconvenience.

“As an anticipated part of the transition process, the aquatic portions of the leisure centres will be temporarily closed beginning Monday, September 12, while staff work with Fraser Health to finalize health approvals and operating permits,” the YMCA website notice read. “Our civic facilities have a full complement of staff looking forward to continuing to serve Chilliwack residents, and we will reopen the aquatic centres shortly. We understand this temporary closure is an inconvenience, and we are working with Fraser Health to ensure the delay is as short as possible.”

The Chilliwack City Council voted on August 16 to award a five-year contract to the YMCA of Greater Vancouver to run two leisure centres and an outdoor pool. The cost runs just over $10 million, offering considerable savings compared to the $13 million price tag that Recreation Excellence submitted through the bid and tender process.

Following the vote, the City unveiled a question-and-answer page on its website in which it emphasized that service hours at the two leisure centres remain unchanged until April 2023, at which time longer operating hours are expected contingent upon staffing levels.

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Under no normal circumstances will the YMCA cut or reduce services, according to the Q&A. The City states the YMCA is required to meet the services as outlined in the request for proposal and no service cuts are anticipated under the contract.

Under the YMCA, Cheam Leisure Centre hours for the gym and weight room will be open from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, and 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. Statutory hours may vary. Pool hours are yet to be determined.

With the YMCA now in charge, Chilliwack Landing Centre hours for the gym and weight room are expected to be open 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, and closed Sunday and statutory holidays. Pool hours are yet to be determined.