Dear Editor,
This is my response to Mr. Landry’s letter published in THE EQUITY on Sept. 12.
I am writing to confirm some important facts regarding our new proposed Piscine Pontiac Pool and to address Landry’s concerns.
The MRC Council of Mayors voted unanimously for the decision to locate the facility in Fort Coulonge. It is written in the resolution.
The location was proposed based on location, devitalization and population in close proximity. Fort Coulonge is in the centre of the Pontiac when driving distances are calculated including all 18 municipalities. This pool is for the entire Pontiac. Our residents currently travel further distances to Pembroke, Ont. and Arnprior, Ont. Fort Coulonge is also one of the five most devitalized municipalities in the Pontiac along with Calumet, Thorne, Rapides des Joachims and Portage.
The other reason is 26 per cent of our population live in the immediate vicinity. This is relevant because those people could access the pool on a daily basis without public transportation and in some cases can walk or ride a bicycle. TransporAction will be partnering with us to ensure that everyone can travel to this location.
The studies that Landry refers to were conducted 10 years ago. The Pontiac has undergone significant change in the past 10 years with the closure of the mills. Our statistics are from 2017.
This aqua centre is more than a pool. It consists of a 25 metre pool, a large, warm therapy pool and a 15 person hot tub. There will also be a multi-purpose room. It will most definitely be an asset to the community as it will attract more people to the Pontiac and boost our own health and quality of life.
Finally, I will re-iterate, that this aqua centre is not a municipal pool. There is no plan, present or future to ask the people of the Pontiac to pay for it through their taxes. At this point we have received the land for one dollar and we are making applications for funding to the provincial and federal governments. We will also be inviting corporations and investors in the Pontiac to contribute. There will be memberships sold but this will be a minimal amount. It will reduce the cost of lessons, etc. The pool will function with a user pay system where everyone pays as they use it.
Our not-for-profit board Piscine Pontiac Pool is basing our business plan on real 2018 numbers of the most efficiently run pools in both urban and rural Canada. We are aiming for full cost recovery or zero per cent deficit. If you start by aiming for that you have a chance of ensuring maximum revenue through full scheduling and reduced operating expenses.
The people of the Pontiac have desired a pool for a long time. Many people tell me they have never learned to swim as they did not want to go into the river. This time we are finally moving forward! We all need to work together to make this dream a reality! We need to look ahead to what the Pontiac can become. Provided we receive the funding we will begin this project in 2019. We can do it and we will have a beautiful facility to be proud of!
Jane Toller
Piscine Pontiac Pool
