Aquarena, a popular aquatic center located in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, is facing hefty repair costs as it prepares to meet the standards set by the upcoming Canada Games. The renovations to the facility are expected to be extensive, as the center will require upgrades to its technical equipment, pool infrastructure, athlete changing rooms, and other amenities. Unfortunately, with the Games just around the corner, time is of the essence, and the repair costs have come as a shock to the center’s management team. In this article, we will explore the factors contributing to Aquarena’s repair costs and investigate the steps being taken to ensure the center is ready for the Canada Games.
The Aquarena, a facility situated on the Memorial University’s campus in St. John’s, is in dire need of repair to meet the standards for the 2025 Canada Games, where it is scheduled to host swimming, diving, and artistic swimming competitions. The last time Newfoundland and Labrador hosted the marquee summer sports competition was in 1977, where the said facility was initially built. CBC Investigates obtained records that show ballooning budget estimates to fix up the venue, including concerns raised last fall about the importance of getting work started as soon as possible to ensure the facility is ready on time.
Reports from 2020 show that more than $8.4 million in works must be completed before the facilities would be ready to host the games, and the majority of this amount is allocated for the Aquarena. However, two years later, the estimated cost appears to have jumped but by how much is not clear. Premier Andrew Furey was briefed on the matter in early October 2022, wherein Memorial University had advised the province of unforeseen cost increases and risks to project completion if additional funding is not approved immediately.
Despite the urgency of the matter, the briefing note the university had sent to the province about those increased costs was almost entirely blacked out. Internal correspondence shows that concern had started to grow at the university by September 2022. Director and general manager Craig Neil of The Works wrote that “every day goes by we are tightening the schedule.” The province’s director of recreation and sport acknowledged the “time sensitivity” of the project and asked about the timelines for a decision to be made.
The entire project timeline status section was blacked out in the documents the university provided to CBC, leaving many questions unanswered. As of now, no apparent public indication of plans for the work going forward has been given by the university and Canada Games host society. However, the province recently stated that a cost estimate for the Aquarena work is expected in early May, which was originally slated to be provided on March 31.
It is clear that the cost of repairing Aquarena to meet Canada Games standards is not insignificant, with estimates reaching millions of dollars. While this is certainly a high price tag, it is important to remember the many benefits that hosting the Canada Games can bring to our community. From increased tourism and economic activity, to celebrating our local culture and talent, the Games create a tangible sense of pride and excitement that will undoubtedly make this investment worthwhile. With careful planning and support from all levels of government, we can ensure that Aquarena is ready to welcome athletes and visitors from across the country when the Canada Games come to town.
