Regina council approves plan for $245M aquatic centre

Regina city council is moving forward with the construction of $245-million aquatic centre at the former Taylor Field lands. 

In a 9-2 vote Wednesday, council approved a budget for the project and reaffirmed a plan that will demolish the aging Lawson aquatic centre once the construction of the new facility is complete.

"It is clear that this is the facility we need to build," said Ward 1 Coun. Cheryl Stadnichuk. "It is a generational facility that we are going to be building." 

The new aquatic centre will be the first indoor pool built in Regina since the Sandra Schmirler Centre was opened in 1990. 

Replacing the Lawson has been in the works for more than a decade.

Mayor Sandra Masters made it a central part of her successful campaign in 2020. After the council vote, she said she's happy the project will soon become reality. 

"Swimming pools are one of those things that are one of the lowest-barrier activities that folks can take part in," Masters said. 

A preliminary budget for the project was pegged at nearly $161 million when first passed in 2023. Updated numbers provided earlier this year indicated the cost of the project had increased by $85 million, split between inflationary costs on construction and design scope clarity. 

Instead of the $81.5 million the city was originally projected to be responsible for, the cost increase means the city's required contribution is $139.6 million. 

The plan passed Wednesday will use $128 million in funding from a federal government infrastructure program.

Effort to shrink scope fails

A last-gasp effort by Ward 4 Coun. Lori Bresciani to change the course of the project was never put to a vote. 

Bresciani had advocated for reducing the scope of the long-planned aquatic facility due to the surging costs. 

Instead of building the current proposed facility, Bresciani suggested spending $61 million to renovate the Lawson. The proposal would have also considered other locations to build a new pool, with the hope of securing more funding from the provincial or federal governments. 

"I don't think it hurts to go and ask the questions as to what other funding is out there for regional economic [dollars]. If there is an option to have two pools, I think it's better than one," said Bresciani. 

City staff have previously told council that upgrading the Lawson could cost much more than $60 million, especially if they want to extend its lifespan before the projected five years it has left. Renovations could require the facility to be closed as long as two years, staff said.

Groups eager for a new aquatic centre pushed back on Bresciani's proposal. 

"Firstly, we are not living in reality if we think the Lawson can be renovated for the dollar figure and time frame being suggested," said Tracy Moser of the Regina Piranhas Summer Swim Club. 

Other advocates voiced concerns that renovating the Lawson would deprive them of much-needed pool space. 

"A city this size without a real pool is illogical, ridiculous and unfathomable," said Jacob Korpan, a coach for the Regina Masters Swim Club and Captain of the University of Regina Swim Team. 

"This awful idea must be quashed and the [indoor aquatic facility] must go ahead for the best interest and well-being of current and future [residents]."

Bresciani ultimately concluded she could not get enough support for her plan and did not put it on the floor. 

Only Bresciani and Ward 10 Coun. Landon Mohl voted against the proposal passed by council. 

Burden on taxpayer yet to be decided

Council's vote means the city will use debt to fund the extra cost.

One option to pay for that debt would be a one-time dedicated 2.7 per cent increase to the mill rate, which determines the tax per dollar of a property's assessed value, expressed in "mills." That would work out to $65 a year for the average household.

Another option council is considering is a dedicated 0.5 per cent mill rate increase phased in over five years. That would work out to an additional $12 per year for the average household for five years.  

That will be a decision made by the incoming city council. At least six wards will have new faces after the municipal election set for Nov. 13. 

Masters says she hopes the city will get shovels in the ground on the aquatics project in 2025.