The City of Yellowknife has long recognized the importance of recreation as a cornerstone of community well-being. For decades, the Ruth Inch Memorial Pool (RIMP) was the city’s aquatic hub, but demand consistently exceeded capacity. Grant White, Director of Community Services, explained the challenge in stark terms. “For each of the swimming program sessions offered there was typically a waiting list ranging from 300-350 which equated to between 900-1,050 individuals on a waiting list annually. Staff at the RIMP maximized the usage of the facility to address the capacity issue as much as possible. Through creative use of the five lanes and lagoon area various uses of the pool were combined at one time.” By 2012, the City’s Asset Management Plan confirmed that the pool was nearing the end of its life expectancy. The conclusion was clear: Yellowknife needed to either expand or replace its aquatic facility. This decision became a civic priority, setting the stage for what would ultimately become one of the city’s most ambitious recreation projects. The process of defining what a new aquatic centre should be began in earnest in 2018, when the City allocated $75,000 for public consultation. The Aquatic Centre Advisory Committee (ACAC) was formed, with representatives spanning City Council, the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, the business community, seniors, youth, and persons with disabilities. “Through a series of public engagement opportunities including on-line surveys and public open houses, the ACAC and the consulting team received important comments and feedback on the components desired from the community on what to include in an aquatic centre,” said White. “These comments and feedback were compiled and deliberated on by the ACAC with the result being the Aquatic Centre Pre-Design Report which was submitted and adopted by Council.” 39 NOV 2025 | BUSINESS ELITE CANADA
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