By Aaron Stuckel

Fundraiser keeps Marion Aquatics afloat and then some

Mar 31, 2012 | 7:31 AM

Rarely does it occur that the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary ask for help. But when the boil water order came down on the city of Prince Albert, it threatened to close a main source of their livelihood—the Marion Aquatics pool.

After inquiring about their options from their city councillor, Greg Dionne, he decided to return the hundreds of favours the sisters have done over the years and start a fundraising campaign to save the pool.

Never wanting to ask anything of anybody, the sisters reluctantly agreed.

Just under a month later, Dionne has gathered more than $66,000 from the community, all of which will go to keeping the pool open and providing swimming programs for underprivileged children. That more than doubles the estimated deficit the city’s water problems were going to cause.

“I can tell you that we are overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of this community. We never thought when we had decided that maybe we would have to close the doors that this response would come about,” said Sister Jean Leier, who manages the pool. “I don’t know what more to say except a huge thank you from all of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary.”

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Donations came from a number of sources, but one thing Dionne pointed out was that most of money raised came from individuals in $50-$100 increments. At a press conference on Friday, he proudly showed off a four-page list of donors who opened their wallets and hearts to save the pool.

“It was incredible … That’s why I love Prince Albert. I thought I’d have to put a committee together, but we didn’t need a committee,” Dionne said. “We just had two spots to drop the cheques off, and the cheques just started rolling in.”

Dionne said it was not hard to want to help the Sisters, who reside in his West Flat ward.

“You have to know the Sisters. When they phone and ask you something, it’s a thing you can’t say no to,” he said. “It’s been humbling for the sisters because they’re givers. They’re not used to receiving.”

Even though the official fundraising campaign is now over, Dionne announced that he would stay on as a fundraising representative. He said that he would like to see more free swimming programs made available, and would hold fundraising events in the future to encourage that.

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