The Canada Games Aquatics Centre was the crown jewel brought to Saint John as a result of hosting the 1985 Canada Games. As the only 50-metre pool in New Brunswick, the facility has hosted dozens of events and swim meets during its 40 years of operation. It is also a resource many in the greater Saint John community take advantage of between its pool and gym area. With the games returning to the Saint John region in 2029 as one of the co-hosts with Moncton, the pool will have to close for 15 to 18 months come Dec. 20 for required upgrades. They include overall accessibility improvements, the widening of two lanes in the leisure pool, new changing rooms, and new tiling around the pool itself, among other improvements. It is estimated the renovations total cost will be around $29 million. The refurbishment will also mean some of the around 120 staff at the centre, which is a mix between full-time/part-time staff as well as both union and non-union members, will be laid off. While the facility is forced to close its doors, the organization behind the programming is hoping to continue serving the region. “During the closure we are looking to satisfy the needs of our patrons that have been here, loyal members for over 40 years,” says Andrea Foster, general manager of the aquatics centre. “We’re looking for that continuity where we can have some temporary services during the closure.” Foster says they have been in conversations with local high schools and hotels about using their pool and gym spaces, as well as continuing to offer physiotherapy services that are currently offered on site. She says other facilities have been eager to support the pool during the closure. But for all that to be made possible the centre needs money from the Fundy Regional Service Commission, which oversees five regional facilities located uptown including the pool. In July, the aquatics centre drafted a budget and presented it to the commission outlining the financial requirements needed to keep services operating while the pool undergoes renovations. It had only asked for $125,000 of transitional funding during the renovations but was denied by the commission. “It’s impactful,” Foster says if the money doesn’t come. “It affects staffing, it affects our continuity and providing the wellness that we want to continue to provide for our members. We wanted to do a fitness continuance, we wanted to do massage, physiotherapy, kind of a mini version of what we offer here.” “We can never replace the lap swim, but with the partnering that we want to do with the other pools in the city and schools we could still provide lessons.” In a recent Saint John City Council meeting, councillors voted unanimously on a motion from Greg Norton to send a letter to the commission asking them to reconsider their position on the funding, as it has an impact on more than just Saint John. Foster believes conversations are happening behind the scenes to see what can be done about the funding with commission officials. If the money doesn’t come, the pool won’t be able to offer any services for the duration of the closure. “I don’t even want to imagine what life without funding and supporting this wonderful regional facility would look like,” says Foster. “I just can’t imagine.” Commission controversy The Fundy Regional Service Commission was created in 1998. It was done so during the time of amalgamation, and when towns outside Saint John did not want to become part of the port city, the agreement under provincial legislation was to share the operating costs of the regional facilities. The Fundy Regional Service Commission oversees the operation of the five regional facilities in the area, all of which are located uptown. They included the aquatics centre, Saint John Trade and Convention Centre, TD Station, the Imperial Theatre, and the Saint John Arts Centre. Since 2023, capital and operating costs have been shared by the Fundy region. While Saint John pays more than half the cost, other municipalities contributing to the amenities include Grand Bay-Westfield, Quispamsis, Rothesay, Hampton, Fundy-St. Martins, and parts of the Fundy Rural District. In its latest budget for 2027, the commission has proposed changes that cut capital spending which could leave Saint John taxpayers footing even more of the bill according to a post from the city. The excludes the $29 million already set aside for the Canada Games Aquatics Centre Renewal project, which is separated from the transitional funding asked for by the pool. In the post the city says $1.2 million of capital costs have already been identified for 2027. “The region enjoys [the regional facilities] but at different levels,” says Saint John Deputy Mayor John MacKenzie, who is also the chair for the regional service commission. “Saint Martins and Hampton, they may not have as many people coming in as say Quispamsis, Rothesay, and Grand Bay, but they’re still part of our region and an important part of our region. We just have to work something out that makes sense and people can live with it.” MacKenzie says it’s on all municipalities in the region to come together to find a cost solution that is fair and works for everyone. When asked why transitional funding was denied for the aquatics centre, MacKenzie says the commission had no additional room in the budget. “But I think if a business case to be made saying, you know what, it’s going to cost more in the long run than to pay the upfront cost, then we’ll have to look at that,” he says. “Whatever makes sense I think is what will land on.” MacKenzie notes how much the five facilities do for the region from providing entertainment to bringing world class events to the area. Without them, it makes the decision for someone looking to move easier to skip over the greater Saint John region. “I think it’s really important that we have them, we improve upon them, and that we grow along with them.” For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
