||| FROM SUZEY FRANK |||
Thank you, Marie. A life diminished indeed!
For the past 25 years, right round 2:30pm, I’ve gotten into the pool to teach our Island’s kids to swim. In all of those years there has been a steady stream of lap swimmers, aerobics participants, family swimmers, tourists and, yes, children learning to swim.
I have seen the population of our Island nearly triple, I’ve watched the development and growth of our school/S, our town, our whole Island. We’ve built Tracks, Fields, Skate Parks, Pickle-Ball Courts, Fire Halls and Dog Parks. As a community, we outgrew this pool by the time it was completed. The swim lesson program has run a wait list since its inception, some may even remember the lottery to get a spot for lessons.
It’s time we build a proper Pool and Aquatics Center on Orcas. Our Island population is large enough to support it and it would be a tremendous asset to our health, well being and community.
An Aquatic Center isn’t free or inexpensive to maintain but it IS a community ASSET. It can provide more than a swimming pool; it can include showers, saunas, hot tub, toilets and laundry facilities. It is a year round activity for all ages and abilities, a healthy indoor activity when our climate can be so wet and gray.
An Aquatic Center can provide Swim Lessons, Age Group and High School Swim Teams, Masters Swim Teams, Senior Swimming, Water Aerobics, Lifeguard and Water Safety programs, Swim Tests for our Rowing and Sailing teams, Physical Rehabilitation, Recreations and so much more.
It’s also year round employment that is not tourist based, it can provide jobs for all age and skill levels; administrative, teachers, lifeguards, maintenance.
For me, it’s my business, my livelihood. But for our community, (40) kids have just stopped their lessons and after school activity, another (80) will miss out over the next few months before summer starts.
Fun Fact: Knowing how to swim, can actually save your life.
**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**
I have seen Suzie in action and the joy and advancement of those kids who are not only having fun but learning an important life skill especially on an island like ours. The other important connection I would suggest for an aquatic center is to also connect it into the school system to form a swim team and improve the utilization rate and financial support. A win/win for all.
I would be a strong supporter of such a project. Fantastic contribution to mental and physical health, especially during dreary winter weather.
A lot of the small coastal communities in Canada have great aquatic centers.
This is probably a $25 million project with annual support of $250K. User fees could meet a lot of the operating expense.
If someone wants to put together a campaign for an Orcas swim center, count me in.
These are essential skills. Susie teaches our kids to swim. Also to take care of one another.
Any way it could be converted to salt water?? I know it is expensive but one can still dream, eh???
Indeed, there are a handful of people interested in exploring such an endeavor. If you’re interested please email me at lindsay@oicf.us and I’ll connect you. Thanks Susie, my daughter knows how to swim (along with many others!!) because of you!