Pool fees consistent with local market

To the Editor:

Re: the recent Letter to the Editor, “Fee hike feels excessive” in The Hants Journal.

The Hants Aquatic Centre will be an exciting and new destination place for all to enjoy swim lessons, aqua fit, lifeguard training, public swims, scuba, synchro, rentals, swim team as well as pool events for Sam Slick and for pooches.

The facility boasts of a beachfront walk-in leisure pool, pleasant picnic lounge areas, a Junior Olympic pool and a pool for tots as well.

The Town of Windsor is pleased that the Municipality of West Hants has joined in partnership with the Town to jointly set the aquatic fees for this season and, having compared the past fees at the former Windsor Centennial Pool with other aquatic facilities in the province, the joint committee settled on a $55 fee for each two-week swim lesson session.

A neighbouring outdoor pool in the Kings/West Hants area charges $50 and a local private pool in the Windsor area charges $55 for the same two-week swim session.

We’re proud that our programs are very high quality and the Town of Windsor has always believed that being inclusive is important. We also understand the concerns about the new fee structure this year.

As mentioned in a letter to the editor, there were discount packages at the former outdoor pool facility. These, typically are very difficult to manage administratively and with the increased operating costs of a larger, new Hants Aquatic Centre, we are attempting to balance the fiscal responsibility of managing a more expensive facility with charging rates that still keep us in the market comparison with other facilities.

Because two-week swim sessions that cost as much as $60 and $80 exist in other areas of the province, we believe that $55 is still a "good deal" here in the Windsor and West Hants area.

The good news is the Town of Windsor Recreation Department has lots of great ideas for helping to make these fee payments a bit easier through payment plan options and assistance through the Windsor Recreation Trust Fund.

We’re working with "one and all" to ensure that everyone can be part of our active, fun and safe summer swim line-up! For assistance with registration for any of the Hants Aquatic Centre programs this summer, contact Janet Landry at 798-0696.

Janet Landry

Town of Windsor

Director of Recreation