Pool party.
Community Living clients and staff enjoy the warmth of a Hawaiian theme while showing their support for the addition of a pool and second ice pad for Renfrew.
Peter Clark, Renfrew Mercury
Clients of Community Living Renfrew County South and staff members held a party to a Hawaiian theme last Friday, and showed their support in favour of a pool and second ice pad for Renfrew.
Many wrote letters addressed to the mayor and town council.
They were dropped off Monday afternoon, prior to council’s final decision that took place in council chambers Monday night.
Mary Ellen McNulty noted that a pool would be good for special Olympics.
A second ice surface would allow more sledge hockey to be played, she added.
Eric Teschke added that a pool would cut down on transportation as they would no longer have to travel to Arnprior.
Jesse Stroud wrote that more Special Olympics events and swimming meets could be held locally if Renfrew had its own pool.
Staff members noted that the pool would help individuals with mobility issues.
Nicole Brown said they have had to cut back on the swimming program because of the time used up travelling to and from Arnprior.
“If the pool was in Renfrew, we’d go five days a week, no problem. We could walk over,” she said.
As they and the rest of Renfrew town residents learned Monday night, council voted down the pool-second ice pad project by a margin of 5-2.