Bridgewater’s outdoor pool should be around for many years to come thanks to an investment by the province.
At a poolside press conference Friday, Mark Furey, Lunenburg West MLA, announced the province had invested around $30,000 into the O’Reagan’s Subaru Outdoor Pool renovations, including a protective coating that will maintain the health of the pools surface for many years.
Tim O’Reagan, funding partner with the pool, said being able to keep the pool open going forward for the surrounding community is important and was the driving force behind the pool’s recent renovations.
‘One reason it’s important is it’s a place of employment for youth, and with that employment comes leadership skills development within the youth,” he said.
“Its also a place for the community who lives within walking distance of the pool, who you know, may not have the transportation or means to get to, say the beach or some other form of recreation,”
O’Reagan said the total cost of the pool renovations for this fiscal year was around $110,000.
Tim O’Reagan, funding partner for the O’Reagan Subaru Outdoor Pool, spoke of the important role the pool plays to the community on Friday
The province’s involvement in the renovation came after the town reached out about the possibility of funding.
“We work very close with the town and our community stakeholders, so where there is a opportunity to partner, the province will be one of those partners,” said Furey.
Furey said partnerships like this are only possible due to the strong connection the province has with its smaller communities, something he said is often unseen elsewhere in Canada.
“Its the interactions and personal relationships we all have with one another, both in a social and professional work environment, that enable us when a common objective presents itself, we can just pick up the phone and call. Whether it’s an elected official, an active community leader, or a business leader,” he said.
“We have that network in small communities where we can actively call on one another knowing those individuals would be committed to finding solutions and contributing however they can.”
Reported by: Cody McEachern
Twitter: @CodyInHiFi
E-mail: mceachern.cody@radioabl.ca
