Though the fitness centre expansion project at the Meadow Park Sports Centre (MPSC) is "on time and on budget," according to the Resort Municipality of Whistler, the busy recreational facility is still struggling with lifeguard shortages—and some unrelated technical problems to boot.
The ongoing lifeguard shortage—despite the addition of six new part-time lifeguards—means modified pool hours will continue for the time being.
"We're working with the B.C. Lifesaving Society and we're encouraged to learn about a new procedure that will allow pool lifeguard certifications from Canada, Australia and the U.K. to be more transferable," said Mayor Jack Crompton, though he couldn't say when that change might happen.
"We are also looking at options to lower the costs of any lifeguard-related certification courses in the new year."
Lifeguards at the MPSC start at $23.43 per hour, plus 12 per cent in lieu of benefits.
There are currently two permanent part-time staff members, 18 casual (some with good availability and others not so much) and 24 on-call staff.
The total hours of coverage needed on any day averages out to 40, which works out to about eight to 12 lifeguards working every day.
But the problem isn't specific to Whistler, said Sean Healy with the B.C. Recreation and Parks Association, who has heard of similar shortages across the province, and even as far away as London and Beijing.
Part of the issue is that the activity has grown in popularity, with more retirees taking it up as a way to stay active, Healy said.
"While the training agencies continue to train the same number of people each year, with swimming growing in popularity and the population growing but also aging ... that starts to set up this sort of strain on recreation services," he said.
Another factor is a growth in "boutique services," like private swim lessons.
"We've also got a very low birth rate here, and also a low immigration rate, and so those also factor in," Healy said. "This isn't just about aquatics, this is across all sectors."
In some parts of the province lifeguarding can pay upwards of $30 to $35, he noted.
"So it literally can be a bona fide career choice," he said.
But the staff shortage isn't the only issue impacting hours at MPSC as of late.
The steam room, sauna and hot tub have all seen closures in recent weeks due to unrelated issues, Crompton said.
"The steam room [was] closed for approximately three weeks as a result of a broken steam generator, which [was] rebuilt by the manufacturer," he said.
"The rebuild takes approximately half the time of ordering a new generator, [which] would take six weeks. Steam generators are customized for each facility so it is not just something you can purchase off the shelf."
The cost to rebuild is about $6,000, compared to about $12,000 to replace the generator entirely.
The sauna was out of order from Dec. 7 to 11 after some electrical elements were damaged, likely as a result of people pouring water over the rocks above the elements, Crompton said.
"There is a sign that clearly states to not pour water over the elements," he said. "We'd ask the public to please not pour water over the elements."
MPSC maintenance had spare parts on hand, but had to wait for an electrician and a plumber to install them, Crompton said, adding that the repair is covered under the MPSC's operational budget.
The hot tub, meanwhile, was closed after water samples showed high levels of "total dissolved solids," which occurs when there are "heavy bather loads," according to an RMOW spokesperson.
The hot tub was dumped and refilled, and is back up and operating.
The fitness centre project—which includes expansion of the cardio room and the addition of a stretching room—is on track to be completed by April.
In June, Whistler council awarded a contract for the work in the amount of $1.4 million to TM Builders Inc., the only firm to submit a bid, in a split vote (see Pique, June 13, 2019).
The project is also being boosted by an anonymous $400,000 donation.
"Meadow Park is an extremely popular amenity that gets lots of use," Crompton said.
"Our community would like to see it open as much as possible, and we're responding and working hard to see that happen."
