The new outdoor swimming pool was officially opened to the public on July 1 at the Weyburn Leisure Centre. This was held in conjunction with the City's Canada Day celebration.
About 935 children and adults registered to swim on the 1st. Cenovus Energy and the City sponsored a day of free swimming.
The Royal Canadian Legion held a pancake breakfast while Cenovus sponsored a free barbecue lunch. Weyburn Co-op supplied a Canada Day cake. The Family Place put on a variety of children's games throughout the day.
Canada Day celebrations ended with a bang at the Exhibition Grounds where the annual fireworks were held.
The new six-lane Junior Olympic-sized pool includes a zero-beach entry, tot pool with spray elements, twin speed slide and two diving boards.
The total cost of the pool was approximately $900,000 with two major donations covering part of that cost. The Weyburn Young Fellows donated $50,000 and Cenovus Energy gave $100,000 to the City for the new pool. The City also received a $250,000 Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund grant from the provincial and federal government for the project.
The new pool replaces the Centennial Pool, built in 1967. Weyburn's first pool was built in 1931, which cost the Young Fellows $16,600 to construct.
The Leisure Centre will host several days of free swimming throughout the summer months. Cenovus will sponsor free swimming on Mondays until August 23 and the City and Kidsport will sponsor free swimming on Wednesdays and Fridays until August 27, both from 1 to 5 p.m.
The RM of Weyburn will sponsor free swimming on Tuesday, August 3.
