Community members, project partners, elected officials, recreation leaders and families gathered on Wednesday, September 9 to celebrate the successful first season of the Enderby Outdoor Pool and mark an important milestone in the story of this landmark community investment.
The End-of-Season Celebration, held at the Enderby Outdoor Pool in Barnes Park, brought together many of the people and organizations whose vision, support and contributions helped make the new facility possible.
The celebration had a splash of fun built right into the agenda. While speakers shared stories and reflections, members of the public enjoyed a free swim, with families taking full advantage of the pool, lazy river, waterslide, and other amenities. It was the perfect reflection of a facility built to foster connection, keep families active, and offer an inclusive space where everyone can create lasting memories.
The first season has demonstrated the importance of a new outdoor pool to Enderby, Rural Enderby, and Splatsin, as well as visitors who flocked from the broader region. Families, children, seniors, and swimmers of all abilities spent the summer enjoying the pool’s many features, while staff and lifeguards successfully operated a brand-new aquatic facility and welcomed the community with an array of fitness programs, public swims, and swimming lessons.
More than a recreation facility, the new outdoor pool is a cornerstone of community life. It creates opportunities for children to learn life-saving water skills, supports active and healthy lifestyles, provides inclusive recreation opportunities for people of all ages and abilities, and strengthens the community’s position as a vibrant, welcoming family destination.
Replacing the Enderby Lions Pool that faithfully served the community for more than seven decades, the new pool represents a significant investment in the future of the communities it serves.
Designed with accessibility, sustainability and long-term community growth in mind, the facility includes a leisure pool, lap swimming area, lazy river, waterslide, hot tub, spray features, accessible change rooms, family amenities, and barrier-free access throughout.
The project was made possible through years of planning, collaboration and investment involving all levels of government, including the City of Enderby, Regional District of North Okanagan, the Province of British Columbia, and the Government of Canada.
Local community groups contributed generously to specific features at the Enderby Outdoor Pool. The Enderby Legion Branch 98 sponsored the facility’s wheelchair ramp, helping ensure veterans, seniors and community members can easily access the pool. The Enderby & District Lions Club funded the spray features, bringing extra colour and fun to the pool area.
Charities and foundations also contributed to making the Enderby Outdoor Pool a welcoming and inclusive space. SPARC BC funded the barrier-free change room lift and water wheelchair, and the RBC Barrier Buster Grants Program, presented by the Rick Hansen Foundation paid for the hot tub lift.
The Enderby Outdoor Pool is expected to attract thousands of visitors annually, generate economic activity for local businesses, support recreation programming, and provide a shared gathering place where residents from Enderby, Rural Enderby, and Splatsin can connect and celebrate.
While the first season comes to a close this week, the Enderby Outdoor Pool is just beginning its role as a long-term community asset. The City and operations team look forward to building on the success of this first summer and welcoming residents and visitors back for many more seasons of making waves.
Major Funding Partners
The Enderby Outdoor Pool project was made possible through a collaborative investment by federal, provincial and local governments, including:
Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program
The project received joint federal and provincial funding through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – Rural and Northern Communities stream. The program supports projects that improve quality of life, public infrastructure and long-term community resilience in rural and northern communities across Canada.
Growing Communities Fund
The Province of British Columbia provided funding through the Growing Communities Fund. The Growing Communities Fund provides a one-time grant to all 188 local governments in British Columbia to support the delivery of infrastructure projects necessary to enable community growth.
Build Communities Strong Fund Community stream
The project also received support through the Community Works Fund of the Build Communities Strong Fund Community stream, delivered in BC by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities. The Community stream is a permanent source of federal infrastructure funding which helps local governments build and maintain infrastructure that supports strong, sustainable communities and improves the quality of life of residents.
Quotes
The Honourable Stephen Fuhr, Member of Parliament for Kelowna and Secretary of State (Defence Procurement)
“Canada’s government is committed to continuing to strengthen community infrastructure across the country. This new outdoor pool represents an important investment in our residents, our families, and our community. More than a place to swim, it will serve as a welcoming space for the community where residents of all ages can connect, stay active, and enjoy the summer together.”
Christine Boyle, BC Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs
“As communities grow, so does the need for recreation infrastructure that supports residents and keeps them active. Through the Growing Communities Fund, we’ve helped local governments deliver the facilities and services that make our neighbourhoods stronger, healthier and more resilient. The new Enderby Outdoor Pool is an excellent example of how this investment helps prepare for the future while enhancing the quality of life people enjoy today.”
Mayor Huck Galbraith, City of Enderby
“This is much more than a celebration of our pool and its inaugural season. This facility is about investing in the community, now and for future generations. This facility has already become a focal point for the entire area, and where memories are created. The Enderby Outdoor Pool truly reflects what is possible when we all come together around a shared vision.”
Allysa Hopkins, Electoral Area F (Rural Enderby) Director and Chair, Enderby & District Services Commission
“The Enderby Outdoor Pool is an important community asset that benefits families, residents and visitors across Enderby, Area F, and the broader region. By providing a safe, welcoming, and accessible place to swim, gather and stay active, the pool will support community health, strengthen social connection, and create recreational opportunities for people of all ages. This investment reflects a shared commitment to enhancing quality of life and ensuring residents have access to public amenities that support a healthy, connected and vibrant community for years to come.”
Sheryl Hay, Manager, Enderby Outdoor Pool and Rec Coordinator, Enderby & District Recreation Services
“This project has been years in the making and represents an extraordinary achievement for our community. Wrapping up our first season at the new outdoor swimming pool marks an exciting milestone for our community, as we celebrated a Summer in an inclusive, welcoming space where people of all ages and abilities came together to enjoy recreation, wellness and meaningful connection.”
Kukpi7 Edna Felix, Splatsin
“Water connects us all. For generations, the people of Splatsin have maintained a deep relationship with the waterways that sustain our communities and our way of life. This new facility represents an investment in wellness, learning and connection for future generations. We are pleased to celebrate this milestone alongside our neighbours and partners and recognize the importance of creating welcoming spaces where children, families and Elders can come together in a spirit of community.”