Council Sets Direction for Aquatic Centre Design Scope

At the regular Council meeting on April 8, 2025, Council approved the design scope of a new aquatic centre.

A range of potential aquatic features and site improvements were considered, informed by modern pool trends, site analysis, insights from regional and recently constructed facilities, cost considerations, and data from the recent public engagement survey. The “What We Heard” report from the Aquatics Survey is available online at fortsask.ca/NewAquaticsProject

Council approved the option that includes incorporating a majority of the key elements identified through public engagement, along with upgrades to the Dow Centennial Centre to ensure seamless integration of a new aquatic centre. The estimated cost for the selected design scope ranges from $70 million to $72 million, offset by the generous $5.6 million contribution from Dow Canada. This option may result in a property tax adjustment of approximately $255 to $260 annually for a typical household, with actual impacts varying depending on property assessment.

The approved aquatic features include a 10-lane lap pool, leisure and tot pools, a cold plunge pool, ramp access to all pools, a hot tub, sauna, steam room, a water play structure, and a water climbing wall. Additional features include a lazy river, two large water slides, one drop slide, 1m and 3m diving boards, a large parent viewing and relaxation area, and a suspended obstacle course. Site improvements will include an updated Dow Centennial Centre lobby with a connecting corridor to the new aquatic centre, a minimum of 140 additional parking stalls, and the development of a ring road around the northwest parking lot.

Next Steps:

• June 24, 2025 – Capital budget update
• July 8, 2025 – Debenture bylaw, validation study report, and first reading of the borrowing bylaw
• August 26, 2025 – Debenture bylaw, second and third reading of the borrowing bylaw
• September 2025 – Spring 2026 (if approved) – Detailed design work
• Spring 2026 – Anticipated construction starts

Fort Saskatchewan, located just 15 minutes northeast of Edmonton along the North Saskatchewan River, is a vibrant hub for economic, recreational, and cultural activities. Nestled in the centre of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland and home to nearly 30,000 residents, the city offers many amenities, including a multi-use fitness facility, an aquatics centre, 80 km of trails, and high-performance arenas and fields. Cultural highlights include a 500-seat performing arts theatre, historic sites, a museum, and a replica of the 1875 Northwest Mounted Police Fort. Fort Saskatchewan is dedicated to fostering an inclusive community, providing a blend of experiences that welcomes everyone.

The city is situated in Treaty 6 Territory and Métis Nation of Alberta District 11. We recognize that we stand upon land that carries the footsteps of many Indigenous Peoples, including the Nehiyawak, Dene, Blackfoot, Saulteaux, Nakota Sioux, and Métis. The City honours the First Peoples of this land and is committed to fostering reconciliation through relationship building, knowledge gathering, and education.