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Treasure was buried at Wascana Pool on Monday to celebrate the facility’s successful first summer.
In 50 years, Regina residents will be able to open a time capsule filled with items celebrating the old facility and the new one.
“To mark the end of a successful season, and a special time in Regina’s history, we’ll be burying a time capsule. Future Reginians will be able to glimpse into the past and experience the identity of our community from today,” Mayor Sandra Masters said.
She was thrilled to announce that the pool welcomed more than 100,000 swimmers to the renewed facility. That was a significant increase from the 24,000 users who visited the old facility in 2019 — its final year of operation.
According to the city, Wascana Pool hosted more visitors than the city’s four other outdoor pools combined.
Masters said the facility is an investment to the future.
“We’re investing for not just our families or our grandkids, but the families of two and three generations from now,” she said.
When the capsule is reopened, Masters hopes residents will still be using the facility with as much excitement and joy as the first summer.
“We hope that they understand that we understood the importance of community gathering and the importance of enjoying this park. This park is extraordinary,” she said.
A time capsule was buried at Wascana Pool to celebrate its successful summer and to remember the old pool. The facility saw over 100,000 visitors. @CJMENews pic.twitter.com/Ke0OHNrulw
— Nicole Garn (@garnnic) September 25, 2023
Bobbie Selinger, the city’s manager of community and recreation programs, said the inaugural summer was one she won’t forget.
“Every time I came here, you would see full grass (of people). You’d see people of all ages using every amenity. It was just really heartwarming,” she said.
The pool’s grand opening faced some challenges with a bear mace incident and a poorly placed red emergency stop button.
But Selinger said the city was quick to respond to any incidents.
“Along the way, there were things that came up and staff responded really quickly. We were able to make it a really positive experience,” she said.
As for the bear mace incident, the pool added additional security measures.
The Wascana Pool renewal project cost $16.4 million. The Government of Saskatchewan provided $12 million through the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program (MEEP) and the city contributed the other $4.4 million.
Don McMorris, the provincial minister of government relations, said the program was created at the start of COVID.
“This is the first of many, many summers that people will be able to enjoy this beautiful facility,” he said.
The capsule includes:
- Items from the grand opening;
- News releases, articles and social media highlights;
- Letters to future residents from McMorris and Masters;
- Items from the PCL project team, including a letter from Darryl Abstreiter’s family. Abstreiter was the site supervisor who passed away from cancer before the project was complete;
- A lifeguard shirt; and
- Photos of the pool’s construction, grand opening and a USB stick of additional photos.
Mayor Sandra Masters and Minister Don McMorris pose at the Wascana Pool time capsule burial site. The capsule will remain closed for 50 years. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)