Templeman Aquatic Centre Annual Maintenance Shutdown

BELLEVILLE - The Templeman Aquatic Centre at the Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre will be closed for its annual shut-down from Aug. 24 through to Sept. 15, 2024. During this time, any required maintenance will be performed and a thorough cleaning of all pool areas including the pool basins, pool deck, windows, ledges, change rooms, office and storage room spaces will take place. There may be periodic closures of the pool change rooms while work is being done. These closures will be rotated to ensure fitness users continue to have access to shower facilities. All other areas of the building will remain open for the duration of the pool closure.

On Sept. 16 recreational swimming and aqua fit will resume with swimming lessons beginning the week of Sept. 23.

The Kinsmen Outdoor Community Pool, located at 151 Dundas St. East, will host the last swims of the season on Sept. 2 (Labour Day Monday). Pre-registration is required. Visit the Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre (QSWC) website for the schedule or pick up a copy at the QSWC or Kinsmen Pool.

Safe and fun cooling zones at the City’s splash pads at West Riverside, Selma Bochnek Splash Pad at Parkdale Veteran's Park and Kinsmen Park will continue to be open for daily use through Labour Day and then open on weekends until Thanksgiving weekend (weather permitting).

Staff would like to thank the public and users for their patience during this time. For further information or for fall program schedules and registrations, please contact the Community Services Department at 613-966-4632 or visit: Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre (QSWC) website.

Media Contacts:

Jenna Leslie

Communications Coordinator

City of Belleville

613-967-3200 ext. 3261

jleslie@belleville.ca

Additional Information:

WHY IS AN ANNUAL SHUT DOWN REQUIRED?

Traditionally, all large pools close for a period of maintenance each year. As pools are very busy throughout the year, they require deep down cleaning and thorough maintenance that requires machinery (i.e. lifts) to be on the deck. Pools and their mechanical systems need to be drained, inspected, cleaned and re-grouted (when necessary), and it requires time down to complete these tasks each year. If regular maintenance is not done each year we could be forced to shut down the pool in the middle of the season and be faced with a situation where we are waiting for mechanical parts. This would impact our regular users and our scheduled programs.

HOW WERE THESE DATES SELECTED?

In consultation with our user groups of the Aquatic Centre, it was determined that having the pools available for use as long as possible while school is out and ready to re-open as soon as possible in September was important for their annual schedules and operations. The Kinsmen Community Pool will remain open until Sept. 2 with some of our user groups making use of the pool time there. City staff will be hiring and training new staff during this period to prepare for the fall programs.

WHY ARE THE POOLS CLOSED FOR SO LONG?

Due to the volume of water in the pools, it takes significant time to drain the pools, fill the pools, heat the water and re-balance all the chemical systems in each of the three pools. This time is in addition to the time it takes to complete the work tasks scheduled to be conducted.

WHAT IS BEING DONE?

• All three pools will be cleaned
• Mechanical systems will be inspected
• Pool tiles & pool deck tiles will be inspected for lost grout, sharp edges, etc. and re-grouted and/or repaired as needed
• Lighting fixtures will be inspected
• Pool exit doors & emergency systems will be inspected, reviewed and modified as required
• Change rooms will receive a thorough cleaning
• All windows will be cleaned
• Ledges & higher areas will be cleaned
• Signage and health regulation requirements will be inspected
• Pool bleacher system will be moved and cleaned
• Pool Office & storage areas will be organized and cleaned
• Staff training and re-certifications will take place