Innisfail Aquatic Centre. (Town of Innisfail)

By Ian Gustafson

Helping a neighbour

Red Deer County council approves $1.65 million in funding for Innisfail Aquatic Centre

Jul 9, 2025 | 2:06 PM

Red Deer County council has approved $1.65 million towards planned upgrades and enhancements which are part of the Innisfail Aquatic Centre modernization project.

At their regular meeting Tuesday, council approved a 10-year funding commitment which includes 20 per cent, or $300,000, of the funding amount in 2026 and 10 per cent, or $150,000, of the funding amount for each of the nine budget years after.

Administration recommended $1.98 million in funding in a similar format, but Councillor Philip Massier brought forward an amendment.

“We’re there to support our communities, but times are tough. We’ve got to watch what we’re spending and we can’t fulfill every ask,” Massier said.

Mayor Jim Wood urged council to stick with administration’s recommendation.

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“I don’t think this is the appropriate place to reduce,” Wood said. “I think we’re investing in something that’s extremely important to our community. I’ve been to that pool lots of times. I know there’s county residents that use it and I know the 30 per cent says they use it. I don’t want to see that this pool becomes unsuccessful. There’s a lot of unknowns for Innisfail, they’ve taken this on with a lot of unknowns. All they’re asking for is the known portion.”

Councillor Connie Huelsman said she wanted to support the recommendation, citing the report which suggests county residents uses the facility often.

“This is, in my mind, the bare minimum to get that swimming pool up and running,” she said. “We want kids participating. I think it’s an excellent venue. I think we just pay our share for now and down the road, there could be talks with where operating and capital goes.”

Meantime, Councillor Dana Depalme was torn on her decision noting multiple concerns raised to her from citizens that the county had no input on the project.

“I do realize we need to support them but also this is county residents’ taxpayer money, and the fact that none of us were at the table, I do have residents who are not happy with the ask,” Depalme explained.

Ultimately, all councillors voted in favour of Massier’s amendment except for councillors Depalme and Brent Ramsay.

The centre’s modernization project was approved by Innisfail town council on April 14 and is expected to cost just under $15 million, which includes a $12.2 million base project scope and an approximate $2.7 million in anticipated risk. The anticipated risk funds is money that may not be spent if it doesn’t need to be.

The modernization will bring the facility, which opened in 1987, up to code and ensure the building remains functional for decades.

While it requires significant work to be code-compliant, the upgrades should reduce the frequency and severity of the issues that have resulted in repeated closures of the facility. It will also extend its overall lifespan.

The upgrades are also expected to lower operating expenses because of improved efficiency. There will be an effort to improve accessibility through change room upgrades and by replacing the existing steam room. They will also add a barrier-free universal change room.

The project is currently underway, and it was previously reported it could take eight to ten months to complete.