May 22 marked a very important step in the realization of a therapeutic and leisure pool being built at the Lionel E. Lalonde Centre in Azilda, said Ward 4 Coun. Evelyn Dutrisac.
Three branches of Desjardins Credit Union in Greater Sudbury joined forces to present a $40,000 cheque to the project's $300,000 fundraising target. That's what fundraising committee has to raise to make the project a reality.
The total price tag of the pool is pegged at $4.7 million, with all three levels of government committing to one-third each of that total. Development of the pool was identified as a priority by city council, she said.
To date, the committee has raised $145,000.
“This money is a stepping stone,” said Dutrisac, who has been fighting for years to get the pool built in Azilda. “It's opening a door for us. The community buy-in is so important in the project, and it gives everyone ownership of this much-needed addition.”
Architectural designs will be drawn up this year, she said. A Request For Proposal will be sent out shortly after that.
The plan is to build the new therapy and leisure pool on the northeast side of the building, and to integrate it into the gym and exercise room, she said.
The therapeutic pool will be used by families, older adults and others with limited mobility for physical therapy and rehabilitation in warm water. The leisure pool will be used for swimming lessons and leisure activities.
It will be open to people of all ages, and will be Greater Sudbury's first public therapeutic pool. No doctor's referral will be needed to use it, and will help the city's efforts in being age-friendly, Dutrisac said.
The committee has until December 2019 to build the pool. If it isn't built by then, any donated money will be returned to whomever donated it. That being said, Dutrisac encourages all Sudburians to donate whatever they can to the project.
“Service clubs and individuals have been donating already,” she said. “This cheque presentation kicks off our major fundraising campaign. The ball is rolling now, and every little bit helps.”
For its part, Desjardins Credit Union looks to get involved with projects that benefit the entire community, said Jean Bisson, director, Caisse Populaire Vermillion in Azilda.
“This is a very important project,” Bisson said. “I'm really proud that we've joined together with Caisse Populaire Vallée Est and Voyageurs Credit Union in order to put our money together to make this project happened. We want to have a healthy community, and we think this project will help achieve that.”
Under terms of city council's resolution to support the project, donations will be held in trust until the start of the construction.
More information is available at greatersudbury.ca/therapeuticpool. Residents are invited to phone Dutrisac at 705-665-6216 or 705-590-2297.
