By Aaron Stuckel

Marion Aquatics fundraiser aims to keep the pool afloat

Mar 15, 2012 | 6:30 AM

The Marion Aquatics Centre has been getting some help to keep their head above water.

The pool has had zero income over the past month and a half as the boil water order has continued in Prince Albert. The pool was forced to close temporarily while the water issue was resolved, and one of their only sources of revenue – swimming lessons – was cancelled.

“You cannot just close the pool and shut everything off because of the chemicals that are in there,” said Sister Jean Leier, manager of Marion Aquatics. “The pool keeps filtering … all the time even though there’s no one in there. So there’s a cost factor in there (as well).”

Leier said they estimated around $30,000 in revenue will be lost as a result of the water issue and she decided to give her city councillor, Greg Dionne a call to see what options were available. And what she got in return has been a welcomed surprise.

“I phoned Greg to know if there was some kind of help. And he said ‘Leave it to me,’” Leier said.
Since Mar. 3 Dionne has been raising funds to help the pool stay afloat.

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“The Marion Aquatics Centre is not subsidized by anyone. It’s not like Frank Dunn that’s subsidized by the city and Sask Rivers,” Dionne said. “They get all their money from revenue.”

Up until Mar. 9, Dionne had received nearly $12,500 from donors around the city, including a $5,000 cheque from Northern Saskatchewan tourism. The preceding weekend saw another $2,000 raised by Original Joe’s.

“I used to work there back in the day. I took swimming lessons there and I’ve known the sisters for probably 30 years,” said Trevor Rowden, owner and operator of Original Joes. “They’ve done a lot for the community over the years they’ve been around … so we just thought we’d help them out.”

The brand new restaurant took $7 out of every steak they sold on Mar. 11 and 12 along with $1 from every one of their house beers.

The generosity from the community has blown Leier and the sisters at Marion Aquatics away.

“It knocks you over really. People are so kind,” Leier said. “It makes me realize that people really appreciate what we’re trying to do here.”

The fundraiser will continue through to the end of the month. The goal is to raise $50,000 to cover both lost revenue and the restarting costs.

Cheques will be accepted at both the Gateway Mall and Ted Matheson’s Men’s Wear, along with other fundraising events planned along the way.

news@panow.com