Hopes are high for Hudsons’ Hope pool opening

HUDSONS’ HOPE, B.C. – The Hudsons’ Hope pool will be ready for summer by May long weekend, according to mayor David Heiberg. 

Though the outdoor community pool has faced issues having repairs made to its liner, which was separating from the surrounding area, these repairs were completed last week. 

“The pool is being filled as we speak,” according to Heiberg. “And we’re ready to go for the May long weekend.” 

Heiberg is also grateful that staffing the pool will not be as difficult as it has been in other community facilities.

“Over the last couple of years, we’ve put some investment into our youth in our community, and thank goodness there’s interest,” he said. 

As senior lifeguards graduated and moved on to other jobs, another group of young people came up to take their places on the sunny outdoor pool deck.

“We’re going through that cycle again,” Heiberg said. “But fortunately, we got a really good number of young people that are interested.” 

Though the pool is being readied for the season, permanent repairs are still required to completely fix the beloved facility. 

“Those are on the radar. We’ve been having trouble with supply issues as well as the contractor that’s been doing work on our pool the last little while.” Heiberg explained.

Currently, they are attempting to line up these longer-term repairs for the off-season.

“Maybe, perhaps, if the stars align, what we can do is get those major repairs done this fall. But that’s not certain for now.”

These uncertainties, inherent to the aging pool that has been a summer staple for both the community and the surrounding region, extend to its opening this season. 

“Today, everything is looking good. But there could be unforeseen things that come up or delays. We just don’t know until we get the system running, but everything looks good,” Heiberg said.

“I’ll be happy when people are in it.”