By Adam Berls

pool closure debate

‘This is performative’: Fiery debate around Council over Aquatic Centre closure motion

Nov 3, 2025 | 9:42 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — Tensions were high around Council Chambers as there was lengthy and heated discussion Monday night over the temporary, two-year closure of the Prince George Aquatic Centre.

Two pieces of correspondence to Council sparked this discussion. The first was from Dr. Amelia Merrick, whose letter noted that the closure of the pool could “actually contribute to a thriving PG.” Merrick also proposed in her letter, that a bathing suit dryer be installed at the Canfor Leisure Pool. Councillor Kyle Sampson proposed a motion that would make this happen, and it was passed by council. Councillor Sampson also put forward a motion that would see the City agree to a temporary arrangement with the Northern Sports Centre, to accomodate users of the gym at the pool. Merrick had brought this idea up in her letter, and the motion was passed.

The second piece of correspondence was from Shane Milne, president of the Prince George Barracuda Swim Club (PGBCS). Milne noted in his letter to council, that the two-year closure would impact high-performance athletes and training quality as well as threating the viability of the PGBCS. Milne also said that the closure would pose a threat to community equity as the Aquatic Centre is a “critical resource for city events.” In his letter to Council, Milne recommended that the City “move beyond simple scheduling accommodations” and investigate a “phased renovation strategy.”

In response to the concerns put forward, Councillor Trudy Klassen put forward a motion that “would look at options to avoid a two-year shutdown of the Aquatic Centre”. This motion sparked a flurry of debate among councillors, which was notably tense and heated . Councillor Sampson said that the motion put forward by Klassen felt “late in the game” and that it “feels performative.” After his comments, Mayor Simon Yu said that the two-year timeline for the shutdown “was not communicated” and expressed concern around the two-year timeline, but Sampson retorted that the timeline had indeed been communicated to the City. Mayor Yu also said during the discussion that a ten month closure timeline had been brought forward, but Director of Civic Facilities and Events Andy Beesley noted that staff “have never said anything regarding a ten month closure.”

Councillor Ron Polillo agreed with Sampson’s comments and said that the City “has to move forward”. Polillo went onto to say that “this is performative, this is political” in regards to the motion on the floor and that Council has to think of the long-term benefits. He also questioned why this debate was happening again and that there was already thorough discussion and debate regarding the closure. After Polillo’s comments, Director of Finance and IT Services Kris Dalio said to council that “if there was another option, it would have been presented to you.”

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Councillor Cori Ramsay echoed Polillo’s and Sampson’s comments, saying that the motion was “financially irresponsible” and was sorry that if saying so “would hurt anyone’s feelings” Ramsay remarked that the motion was “unfair to staff and residents.” and that it could pose problems for the City who are already engaged in contracts for the pool closure. Ramsay said that she remembered well when the City had two pool closures at once, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic noting that “it was hell.” Councillor Ramsay also mentioned that a vote on the motion was called while her and Councillor Sampson were not present in Council Chambers at the moment the question was called. The vote on the motion was called again later on, with all council members present.

Councillor Susan Scott kept her comments brief, but echoed her colleagues by stating “I can’t possibly support this motion.”

Councillor Brian Skakun was in favour of the motion, asserting that all it was doing was having staff bring back a report to look at “other options” and insisted that the motion wasn’t “performative or political”, referring to his colleagues previous comments.

Mayor Simon Yu, after all other councillors had finished speaking, said that he uses that pool “more than anyone in the city” and that “there are options” when it comes to finding a shorter timeline for the closure. Yu reiterated Skakun’s comments that Klassen’s motion “was not political.”

Councillor Klassen’s motion was defeated by a vote of 6-3, with Councillors Ramsay, Polillo, Scott, Frizzell, Bennett and Sampson voting against, and with Mayor Yu, Councillor Skakun and Klassen voting in favour.

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X: @AdamBerls

Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com