Supporting pool enhancements at Bonivital

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/04/2023 (924 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

I was happy to join Obby Khan, minister of sport, culture and heritage, St. Boniface city councillor Matt Allard and City of Winnipeg manager Eric Schmitt to announce the province’s contribution of $4.5 million towards the renovation of Bonivital Pool in Windsor Park.

While the pool is located in Windsor Park, it is an indoor pool supporting the entire southeast quarter of Winnipeg. In prior years, it has seen more than 123,000 annual visits and has offered more than 220 hours of free swim time on top of aquatic programs serving everyone from babies to seniors. I know many of you rely on the pool for yourselves and your families, particularly for youth swimming lessons.

The province’s contribution adds to the City of Winnipeg’s renovation funding of more than $5 million. Together, this more than $9-million investment will pay for renovations to the entrance, reception, change areas and more. Enhancements will include a new multi-purpose room, sauna, universal accessible family change room and two universal toilet rooms. There will also be parking lot upgrades, other exterior repairs as well as important structural, mechanical and electrical improvements.

Congratulations to everyone working to advance this project. This will ensure a more accessible and modernized pool that will continue to serve surrounding neighbourhoods for many years to come. It is expected renovations will begin later this year.

The funding for this initiative is being provided as a grant through the province’s Arts, Culture and Sport in Community (ACSC) fund. The ACSC fund is currently taking both small grant and large capital applications which are due April 17 and April 24, 2023 respectively.

Two other ACSC grants were also recently awarded. I was pleased to join Minister Khan and Coun. Allard once again to announce an ACSC grant of more than $200,000 for the Falcons Football Club. This funding will allow for new field lighting that will provide a safer, lit field and extended play and practice hours in the fall when daylight begins to shorten. The funds will also be used for a new scoreboard. The Falcons Football Club is located next to the Maginot Arena in Windsor Park and offers programs for youth up to 18 years old. This is another important investment that helps ensure we have strong recreational opportunities for youth and families in our community.

A third ACSC grant of $99,000 was awarded to African Communities of Manitoba. The grant will go a long way in supporting this local grassroots organization in building and delivering youth and cultural programming.