Meaford council is entering into an agreement with the YMCA Grey Bruce for the operation of the Blue Dolphin Pool.
During a meeting on May 15, council received a report from Director of Community Services and Clerk Matt Smith.
The report says in January, staff began the recruitment process to obtain lifeguards and instructors to operate the pool for the upcoming season. To date, however, Meaford has only been able to secure four out of the 10 needed to operate the pool.
Staff reached out to the YMCA Owen Sound Grey Bruce to see if they would like to partner for the 2023 season. The YMCA was able to provide Meaford with a proposal, which included a list of responsibilities, a proposed swimming schedule and a copy of the current rates and fees from the YMCA.
As a result, the new proposal would delay the opening of the pool to June 19.
The report says the pool operates annually from the first week in June until Labour Day weekend in September. The pool features a full schedule of events, public swims, lane swims, lessons, private lessons, and pool rentals. The pool is open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sundays.
Should Meaford enter into the agreement with the YMCA, it would be responsible for delivering and directing aquatic programming, hiring, training, scheduling, payroll, and supervising staff, and scheduling of the pool itself. The municipality would be responsible for promoting summer aquatics, facility maintenance, and providing any chemicals and make-up water.
This comes as the YMCA Owen Sound Grey Bruce recently received funding to train more lifeguards.
Coun. Steven Bartley says, “there is money in Owen Sound to train lifeguards for free, and I was hoping this municipality could get on the band wagon for potential people that wanted to be a lifeguard, because that’s our issue.”
Smith says Meaford is currently advertising the need for lifeguards and with this program the YMCA is offering, not only will lifeguards receive free training, the YMCA will employ anyone who completes the training and would like a job at the end.