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Yellowknife's new aquatic centre to open next Monday

The City of Yellowknife says the new aquatic centre in Yellowknife will open May 5 and that a grand opening for the $71-million dollar build would be announced in the coming weeks.

New space includes 8-lane lap pool, leisure pool, waterslide, splash pad and steam room

A pool.
The new aquatic centre features an 8-lane lap pool, picture here, as well as a leisure pool, waterslide, splash pad, hot tub and steam room. (City of Yellowknife)

The new aquatic centre in Yellowknife will open May 5, according to the City of Yellowknife. 

Grant White, the city's director of community services, made the announcement at a committee meeting Monday afternoon, which led to a cheer and a short round of applause.

He said a date for the grand opening of the $71-million dollar build would be announced in the near future.

The new space features an 8-lane lap pool, leisure pool, waterslide, splash pad, hot tub and steam room. It'll also have a meeting room, a locally-run canteen and a patio. 

A building with a sign out front that reads Aquatic Centre.
The aquatic centre, under construction since 2022, will open to the public next Monday. (Liny Lamberink/CBC)

Construction started back in 2022, after Yellowknifers voted in a November 2021 referendum to support the city borrowing $10-million for the project. 

The rest of the project has been covered by federal grant funding and other government funding streams along with some city savings. 

The city said in a news release that regular admission will apply on opening day, and that registration for spring swimming lessons would begin on May 6 at 9 a.m.