North Peace Leisure Pool replacement working group finalized with city council

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The City of Fort St. John council has finalized the two members of council who will join the city’s new aquatic facility working group.

On August 15th, the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) announced it was stepping away from the North Peace Leisure Pool replacement facility project, and leaving it in the hands of the City of Fort St. John. 

The PRRD, in collaboration with the City of Fort St. John and the District of Taylor, created a steering committee to assist the project in 2020, consisting of elected officials from Fort St. John and Taylor, as well as Electoral Areas B and C. 

Shortly after the PRRD’s August announcement, the city approved adjustments to its list of 2025 capital projects in favour of making room in the budget for work on the new aquatic facility, and announced its intention to create a working group for the project. 

During the September 8th regular council meeting, councillors Gord Klassen, Trevor Bolin, Jim Lequiere and Sarah MacDougall all put their names forward as being interested in serving on the working group, citing a variety of reasons.

Bolin cited his eight years of experience on the PRRD’s steering committee, while Councillor Byron Stewart, who put MacDougall’s name forward for the position, highlighted her regular use of the existing pool through her young children. 

Lequiere noted his grandchildren, who use the facility as patrons and as lifeguards, and his connections with youth sports that could supplement his knowledge if elected to the working group.

While Stewart and Klassen vocalized their support for Mayor Lilia Hansen to take one of the two seats, staff confirmed both Hansen and Councillor Tony Zabinsky’s schedules did not align with the decided dates. 

The working group will meet every Thursday until June 2026, which coincides with the PRRD’s board of directors meetings, of which Hansen and Zabinsky are members. 

According to Darrell Blades, the city’s deputy chief administrative officer, the group will include approximately nine members of staff, and any members of council elected to the group would be representatives of the public’s best interest. 

“This is not a steering committee, this is a liaison to report back to council on the staff level,” Hansen said. 

“We have found in the past [that] when staff just try to do things on a staff level, or politicians try to do things on a political level, the community reacts differently.

“So this is to combine the political side with the staff side, the whereabouts, the will and the know-how in order to get a project across the line.”

When asked, staff confirmed all major decisions would be made “at the council table,” and the working group would bring regular updates and reports before the councillors. 

After another brief debate between the councillors, Bolin and MacDougall were elected as city council’s representatives on the working group.