Indoor pool planners select architect

Tina Kennedy
South Peace News

Construction of a new swimming pool is another step closer to becoming a reality.

Stakeholders, including M.D. of Big Lakes, Town of High Prairie and the High Prairie and District Sports Complex society selected an architectural firm to start designing and planning the new facility.

Four proposals were considered early in the new year, Big Lakes' chief administrative officer, John Eriksson told councillors during their Jan. 14 meeting. The committee reviewed them all and settled on John Murray Architectural and Associates.

They were not the lowest proposal, but it has its advantages, says Eriksson. Other proposals from other firms were dependant on hiring another consultant that could end up costing more money.

This choice is a good one.

"We hope that's money well spent and we'll get the best bang for the buck."

The architect and Randy Conrad, consultant on the pool project, are scheduled to be in High Prairie on Jan. 26. That's when they'll meet with various committee members to get things moving along, says Eriksson.

High Prairie and Big Lakes have been advertising for members and approximately half a dozen people have shown an interest in sitting on one of the needed committees, he adds.

"Building, fundraising and programming (committees). Ideally, you'll get users."

When everyone, which includes High Prairie School Division No. 48 and Holy Family Catholic Regional Division, meets later this month they'll start planning the next steps.

No one wants to lose any momentum now that things are going so well, says Eriksson.

"It's got to keep on rolling you can't let it stop."

Anyone interested in getting involved can call Big Lakes or High Prairie for more information and to submit their names.