The motion to explore having an aquatic therapy pool included in the Shuswap Healing Centre made a splash at council.
Coun. Pam Beech proposed having a 15-by-15, four-foot deep pool added to the services offered there, saying it would be “a piece that pulls it all together, everything that we’ve got in that building.”
In her pitch, Beech explained it would require about 550 square feet, and could go in the area of the building that’s not yet designated for anything, with the chief administrative officer adding that there’s 2,500 sq. ft available there. The pool would include two lanes of moving water that can be turned on or off, aquatic equipment like a treadmill and aquabike, and would sit at a comfortable 94 degrees to help muscle relaxation.
Beech added that the pool is an important component because pain management and chronic disease account for a large percentage of what clinics generally address.
“These are things that are difficult to treat, other than giving them pain relief, and pain relief often leads to addiction to the medication that they’re getting,” she said. “The addition of the pool is described as replacing the opioid. Now I can’t think of anything better than that for someone who has to live with pain all the time.”
She added that in addition to treating pain management, a pool would also offer rehabilitation after surgeries and injuries, aquatic fitness, improved mental health, professional training opportunities, alternative therapies and public swimming lessons.
“It is a huge asset that you won’t find in any other healing centre like ours,” Beech said, adding that the nearest such facility she knows of is in the Fraser Valley.
Coun. Siobhan Rich asked if they would need to alter pre-building plans to accommodate necessary plumbing or structural requirements, with Bennett explaining that the area will be left open, without concrete, so there will be flexibility for the needs of whatever goes in there. She also said that the pool information has already been forwarded to the contractor so they are aware of its possibility.
With council in favour of the proposed addition, they directed staff to complete a business case for a therapeutic pool.
Read more: Construction of controversial Sicamous healing centre to begin in March
Read more: 4-3 split vote defeats rail trail rezoning in Sicamous