Aquatics Centre Feasibility Study

The ACRD is conducting the Alberni Valley Aquatics Outreach. We want to invite you to Dive into the Future and provide input on future visioning, financing, and governance options as they explore the feasibility of a replacement for our aging Echo Aquatic Centre (Echo Pool).

The Aquatic Feasibility Study is to provide future development, financing, and governance guidance and planning for the replacement of the current Echo Pool located at 4255 Wallace St., Port Alberni, BC V9Y 3Y6.

The current facility is owned and operated solely by the City of Port Alberni; however, Echo Pool operations directly benefit Area B (Beaufort), Area D (Sproat Lake), Area E (Beaver Creek), Area F (Cherry Creek), the City of Port Alberni, Tseshaht First Nation, and Hupačasath First Nation.

The Aquatic Feasibility Study will be overseen by an advisory committee comprised of ACRD elected officials, City of Port Alberni elected officials, First Nations representatives, members of the public from each Alberni Valley Electoral area and supported by ACRD and CPA staff.

The process involves three phases: We are currently in Phase 3, which is mostly behind the scenes work for now. We will keep you updated as that changes.

PHASE THREEAdvancing a preferred Vision - March 2024 to January 2025 - WE ARE HERE!

Any steps identified for Phase Three will depend on the decisions of elected bodies that come from the final report delivered at the end of Phase Two. These decisions could include creating a regional aquatics service or the development of a function for financing a new facility. Any of the actions taken in this Phase will legally require actions that include public outreach, the development of a clear service bylaw, as well as a public assent process (e.g. a public referendum).

Find out more:

More information is available on this project at our Let's Connect Page.

Additional feedback can be sent to us by emailing aquatics@acrd.bc.ca

Alberni Valley Aquatic Centre Advisory Committee

In order to support this process, the ACRD \formed the Alberni Valley Aquatic Centre Advisory Committee. This committee facilitated participation from local government, First Nations, and community interests within the Alberni Valley to share information and gather input on various aspects of a potential aquatic centre facility. This committee has met its mandate and has been dissolved.

The members of the Alberni Valley Aquatic Centre Advisory Committee Terms of Reference can be found HERE.