ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Less than a day after the provincial government announced a COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Sport, the Aquarena in St. John’s is getting funding to re-open the swimming pool which had been closed since March.
Premier Andrew Furey and Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation Minister Bernard Davis announced Tuesday a provincial investment of $400,000, with Memorial University contributing another $200,000 towards the project.
The province’s only 50-metre pool was closed when COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were implemented in March.
Those restrictions were expected to be lifted earlier this month. However, Craig Neil, director of The Works, which includes the Aquarena and Memorial University’s Field House, told The Telegram, “The Works is a break-even business that relies on a high volume of users to make ends meet. The limited permissible capacity under COVID-19 regulations means it’s not financially feasible to keep the pool open right now.”
"This is real good news, to finally get back to a normal schedule. It’s been real different lately not to be at the pool, and I didn’t like it. It’s just not the same without swimming.” — Jaxon Row
Monday, Davis announced at the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Centre in St. John’s the $2 million COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Sport.
The funding is part of a $72-million federal financial relief package to assist the sports sector, which suffered through financial pitfalls the past number of months as a result of COVID-19.
Furey said $400,000 from the $2 million will be used for the Aquarena, a facility that was originally opened in 1977 for the Canada Summer Games.
The funding, along with Memorial’s contribution, will allow The Works to safely re-open the pool to lessons, community and recreational swims by mid-October.
In addition to community swims, the pool is the main training facility of the St. John’s Legends Swim Club, Edge Diving Club and Sea Stars Artistic Swimming Club.
Competitive swimmers are anticipating being back in the water by mid-October.
“When we received the initial news of the Aquarena’s closure, we were facing real questions about our ability to survive the direct and indirect consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Legends vice-president Connie Duffett said in a news release. “This incredible turnaround marks a great day for the Legends, and for all members of the Newfoundland aquatics community.”
“This is real good news,” said 14-year-old swimmer Jaxson Row, “to finally get back to a normal schedule. It’s been real different lately not to be at the pool, and I didn’t like it.
“It’s just not the same without swimming.”
The Aquarena is the primary training facility for provincial team swimmers as well. Normally, they’d be busy training the next several months preparing for the 2021 Canada Summer Games, but that event has been postponed.
But the swimmers will still be busy. Coming up are the Eastern Canadians, a virtual meet that will be staged in February, followed by the Olympic Trials scheduled for April in Toronto and the Canadian junior nationals in Winnipeg in July.
Row had a breakout 2019-20 season, topping national rankings for 13-year-olds in both the 100-metre freestyle and 50m butterfly, and placing in top 10 in other events.
He’s already qualified for Eastern Canadians and junior nationals, but has yet to qualify for the Olympic Trials.
“The Trials are my main goal,” said the Grade 9 student at Mount Pearl’s St. Peter’s Junior High. “I’ve been working towards them for two-and-a-half years.”
And he can’t wait to get cracking again.
This was a typical week for Row last year:
On Mondays, up at 4:30 a.m. and at the pool by 5:30 a.m.. At school for 7:30 a.m. Back at the pool for 3:30 p.m., and clewing up at 7 p.m. if there was dryland training.
“Depending (on) if it’s a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, things may change in the morning and evening,” he said.
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