With the City’s new Aquatic Centre nearing completion, the City of Yellowknife is saying goodbye to the previous swimming pool.
Beginning over the weekend, the Ruth Inch Memorial Pool will be hosting several week-long special swimming events throughout March and April as a special closing celebration.
Each week’s events will have their own themes that guests are encouraged to take part in.
March 22nd to 28th: Pool Party Theme with DJ Glad Its Night.
March 29th to April 4th: Under the Sea
April 5th to 11th: Luau Theme
April 12th to 18th: Superhero Theme
The first of these themed weeks will be free of charge, while the rest will cost a small fee, no higher than $5.
The pool has been operating since 1988, and was named after one of Yellowknife’s most active and beloved residents, Ruth Inch. Ruth played a large hand in the city’s sports environments by volunteering with the swimming and skating clubs, but also in working with the Girl Guides, Sport North, and the YWCA. Despite not being a swimmer herself, her enthusiasm and support for the swimmers she helped train (which included her daughter, Jennifer) encouraged the Swim Club to propose that the City name the pool in her honour after her death in September of 1986.
Over the last few years, the Memorial Pool has been approaching the point where it is too old to safely serve as an aquatic centre, and in 2016, the planning process was officially launched for a new aquatic centre, and after several years of construction, the new Aquatic Centre is set to open sometime this summer.
The City has stated that additional details on the new Aquatic Centre will be shared at a later date.
