Aquatics Centre renovations at Pyramid Recreation Centre extended until July 2025

Supply chain delays and structural surprises push back reopening, but safety and longevity remain top priorities

By Galen Simmons, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

What was supposed to be a seven-month renovation at the Pyramid Recreation Centre’s (PRC) Aquatics Centre has been extended until July 2025 as Town of St. Marys staff grapple with global supply-chain delays and more severe structural deterioration than initially expected.

The pool, which closed on Nov. 11, 2024, has undergone a full condition assessment revealing widespread corrosion, particularly in hard-to-access areas near the ceiling. Combined with a critical delay in receiving HVAC components, the town now anticipates the work will take until summer to complete – two months longer than initially projected.

“We understand that this extension may be inconvenient for our community, but it is necessary to ensure the highest quality of renovations,” said Doug LaPointe, the town’s manager of recreation operations. “We appreciate everyone’s patience and look forward to unveiling the improved Aquatics Centre in the summer.”

The nearly $1.75-million project – approved by council in September and awarded to Elgin Contracting and Restoration Ltd. – was prompted by years of mounting air-quality and equipment issues. As previously reported, a history of undersized ventilation systems and a saltwater chlorination system used between 2008 and 2018 contributed to humidity levels that far exceeded what the space was built to handle.

“The pool has had a couple issues that are pretty significant over the last couple of years,” LaPointe told council at the time. “We basically listened to the consultant when they recommended to us to improve the air quality. That’s the root cause of the issues we’re having.”

During an inspection in January 2024, a rainwater pipe collapsed into the pool – an incident that reinforced the urgency of the renovations. According to DEI Consulting Engineers, the HVAC unit originally installed had only about half the capacity needed for a pool of this size, and the saltwater system had accelerated corrosion in both exposed and internal components. DEI has since been retained to conduct ongoing inspections and safety audits post-renovation.

The current delays stem from two primary issues. First, key components of the new HVAC system – specifically the compressors – have yet to arrive at the manufacturing facility due to ongoing global supply-chain challenges.

“A delay of one to two weeks is easier to overcome, but this delay could be up to two months, which is unfortunate,” LaPointe said.

Second, once scaffolding was erected over the empty pool shell and inspections could be completed at ceiling height, town staff and engineers discovered more extensive damage than anticipated. Salt and chemical residue from high humidity had led to corrosion on the steel supports and block walls.

That damage is now being addressed through labour-intensive surface preparation that includes abrasive blasting of wall surfaces and hand-cleaning of steel beams before applying industrial-grade epoxy coatings. This remediation alone is expected to take three weeks but will run concurrently with the HVAC delays and shouldn’t add further time to the overall schedule.

The good news? Despite the added complexity, the project remains within its approved budget thanks to a contingency fund built into the contract based on early recommendations from engineers.

Once reopened, the Aquatics Centre will resume its full schedule of programs, including aquafit, lane swims, public swims, swimming lessons, leadership courses and rentals.

“These programs will resume once the pool reopens,” said Andrea Slade, manager of aquatics. “Registration dates and schedules will be announced once a confirmed reopening date is determined.”

Quarry season returns June 27

While residents wait for the indoor pool to reopen, the St. Marys Quarry opens for the season on Friday, June 27 and runs through Labour Day. The facility will offer public swims with cliff jumping, rafts, a slide, a water trampoline and a dedicated lane for lap swimmers.

Super Splash – the popular floating waterpark – will also return this summer. Quarry Resident Season Passes, valid for weekday admission, go on sale in May.

PRC programs still running

Despite the pool closure, the Pyramid Recreation Centre remains open and fully active. Alternative programming continues to support residents of all ages:

• Arena and ice rentals (until May 16): Public skating and rentals available. (townofstmarys.com/skating)

• EarlyON Centre: Free drop-in programs for caregivers and children aged zero to six. (townofstmarys.com/earlyon)

• Friendship Centre: Programming for adults and individuals with differing abilities. (townofstmarys.com/friendshipcentre)

• Youth Centre (open until June 24): A safe and inclusive space for youth. (townofstmarys.com/youthcentre)

• Summer Camp PRC (July 2 to Aug. 29): Themed camps for ages six and over, and specialty camps at the Quarry for older kids. (townofstmarys.com/campprc)

Updates on the Aquatics Centre project will continue to be provided through local media, the town’s website (townofstmarys.com), and Facebook (facebook.com/pyramid.centre) and Twitter/X (twitter.com/townofstmarys).