(File photo/meadowlakeNOW Staff)

By Kenneth Cheung

ANNUAL MAINTENANCE

Meadow Lake pool closes for upgrades ahead of 2026 Sask. Winter Games

Sep 6, 2025 | 1:00 PM

The Meadow Lake Aquatic Centre is shutting down for a little over a month as the city carries out its annual round of repairs and upgrades – this time with an eye on hosting part of the 2026 Saskatchewan Winter Games.

Randeen Wood, aquatics manager for the City of Meadow Lake, said the closure is routine but especially important this year. The pool is scheduled to reopen on Oct. 15. Wood said the timing allows the city to prepare for the Games, which will feature artistic swimming at the aquatic centre.

“It’s very important that we get any general maintenance done in terms of the chlorine feeders, heating systems, just to make sure that the pool will be fully operational during the game.”

The Games are scheduled for Feb. 15 to 21, with artistic swimming events set for Feb. 15 to 18.

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Beyond the behind-the-scenes work, cosmetic upgrades are also part of the shutdown.

“We’re doing a lot of cosmetic upgrades, a new and improved look, some updated painting, murals, such stuff like that. And we’re very excited to show the people of Meadow Lake and the province of Saskatchewan, our new and improved look when we get done,” Wood said.

She added that when the pool reopens, visitors can expect expanded offerings.

“What I am planning on doing is adding different programming, additional programming, more like aquatic fitness workouts or exercise classes, different programming for the seniors of our community… just making changes to the program to try to cater to more members in Meadow Lake,” she said.

That may also mean opening earlier in the morning.

“To cater to the people who have to get up and go to work or who are getting their children off to school. They need to be able to come earlier in the morning to enjoy our facility.”

Fees will remain the same, though new programming and schedule changes are expected. The aquatic centre draws between 1,500 and 1,600 visitors each month in the summer, and its staffing level is about 21.

Wood said she is also planning “a kind of grand reopening night” in October.

“Maybe we’ll have a few draws and some events and probably maybe a type of job fair because we’re always looking for lifeguards, students who want to or adults even who want to improve their swimming skills and become lifeguards,” she said.

She added that the city is grateful to residents who are waiting out the closure.

“It will be worth it when they see the changes.”

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kenneth.cheung@pattisonmedia.com