The future regional aquatic centre is looking a bit closer to reality.
Recently, the District of Kent updated fundraising signs for the Lets’emot Regional Aquatic Centre. The total committed to the LRAC now exceeds $16.5 million, roughly $4.2 million shy of the $21 million goal.
The fundraising signs have been in place and updated over the course of a few months as a way of not only measuring progress toward the final goal but to track fundraising efforts of all kinds, including provincial and federal funding and grassroots fundraising.
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A bulk of the funding already secured comes from the province, who has dedicated $9.5 million to the project with the federal government currently pitching in $454,000. District officials confirmed the district will contribute a total of $6.4 million to the cause. This breaks down to about $4.4 million coming from Community Works Fund and up to $2 million from capital reserves. Private donations, merchandise sales and fundraising events have brought in about $117,000 as of March 10. The grand total raised so far amounts to $16,517,000.
Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon MP Brad Vis recently approached council with a petition to the federal government for additional funding for the LRAC. Vis said rising construction material costs and the importance of the LRAC as a tangible act of reconciliation were strong reasons the federal government should make a larger investment.
The future LRAC will take the place of the Ferny Coombe Pool and be built adjacent to the Community Recreation and Cultural Centre. It will feature an eight-lane lap pool, lazy river, a sauna and steam room and a hot tub.
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The LRAC received it’s “Lets’emot” moniker early last month, appropriately following a meeting of the Lets’emot Community to Community Forum. The Halq’eme’ylem word means “one heart, one mind.” Harrison Hot Springs, Fraser-Cascade School District 78 and the surrounding First Nations communities have all expressed written support for the LRAC.
To donate to the LRAC’s construction, visit kentbc.ca.
adam.louis@ ahobserver.com
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