THUNDER BAY – A Northwood pool will showcase a significant facelift when it opens this summer, after the City of Thunder Bay says supply chain challenges caused months’ worth of delays on the project.
Work on the Churchill Pool began in July of 2021 and is expected to conclude in mid-June, though the city warns challenges in recruiting lifeguards are calling into question whether the pool will be able to reopen at that time.
The pool will boast accessible change rooms and washrooms, and two new fully accessible family change rooms, after the renovations are complete.
Other improvements include replacing piping under the pool deck and resurfacing the deck with new tile, both components that were original to the four-decade-old facility, said manager of facilities services Franco Marchese.
Supply chain issues caused about three months’ worth of delays on the project, he estimated.
The city took advantage of the extra time to do some additional maintenance on the pool, hoping to avert unscheduled shutdowns in the future.
“What people will see when they come into the pool deck is going to look like a brand new pool,” said supervisor of aquatic services Mike Carlucci.
The total value of all of the improvements at the pool is around $550,000, the city said.
Whether the pool will be able to open immediately after construction is complete remains uncertain due to challenges in recruiting lifeguards.
The city has received only about half the number of applications for lifeguard positions it would normally have by this point in the year, reported general manager of community services Kelly Robertson.
The challenges are indicative of larger labour shortages, and the fact that pool closures during the pandemic led some lifeguards to look elsewhere for work.
The city is completing a review of its lifeguard program and reporting back to city council by September.
