New Aquatic Centre Project History

November 2021

• The City is held a referendum to determine if the City is allowed to borrow up to $10,001,000 to build the proposed Aquatic Centre.

2022

• Majority of eligible voters voted in favour of the City borrowing to fund a portion of the construction cost, the City will enter into an agreement with Clark Builders, and work on the proposed Aquatic Centre will begin in 2022.

October 2021

• City Administration presented to the Governance and Priorities Committee on whether to seek voter approval to borrow through a referendum Aquatic Centre. The presentation is available here.

September 2021

• The City selected the design-build proposal of Clark Builders. Their proposal is costed at $67,735,329 excluding GST.

July 2021

• The City of Yellowknife issued an invitational Request for Proposals (RFP) for the construction of a proposed Aquatic Centre.

January 2021

• City Council:
  • Adopted the Aquatic Centre Design Plan as prepared by Taylor Architect Group;
  • Directed Administration to proceed with the completion of the Design Build process that includes a 25m, 8 lane Aquatic Centre, and;
  • Confirmed that an amusement park style water slide be considered in the development of the Aquatic Centre.

September/October 2020

• Public engagement sessions on a new aquatic centre took place from September 21 - 23, 2020.
• An aquatic centre survey was available from September 21 until October 7, 2020, at engagement sessions and at City Hall.

February 2020

•  City Council instructed Administration to develop 2 concepts for the new Aquatic Centre:
  • A new Aquatic Centre with a 25m lap pool; and
  • A new Aquatic Centre with a 52m lap pool.

December 2019

• The City retained Taylor Architecture Group to finalize the details of the Pre-Design Plan and, if approved, to complete bridging documents for a Design-Build process.

February 2019

October 2018

• The Pre-Design Plan is presented to Council, with a recommendation from the ACAC for a new aquatic centre with a 52 metre pool, based on public feedback.
• The capital cost is estimated at $49.8 million.

September 2018

Two preliminary concepts were presented to the community for feedback:

• A new Aquatic Centre with a 25 metre lap pool; or
• A renovation/addition to Ruth Inch Memorial Pool, with a new 25 metre lap pool and expanded support spaces.

June 2018

• 425 households and 42 community organizations were surveyed to collect community feedback about the potential project.

April 2018

• The Aquatic Centre Advisory Committee (ACAC) was formed.
• The City retained a consultant to prepare a Pre-Design Plan.

November 2016

• City Council accepted a $12.9 million federal grant for the construction of a new aquatic centre, to be spent by end of 2022.