WV Aquatic Centre upgra

Jan-Christian Sorensen
Contributing Writer

THE West Vancouver Aquatic Centre is one step
closer to getting a multi-million-dollar facelift.

During its regular weekly meeting Monday nighi, West
Vancouver District council commissioned Roger Hughes
Architects Inc. of Vancouver to conduct an assessment regard-
ing the proposed upgrading and expansion of the 24-year-old
facility.

The expansion, which had an initial pricetag of approxi-
mately $2.5 million, was identified as one of West Vancouver's
top five priority projects in a Recreational Facilities Master Plan
compieted by David Nairne & Associates ia June 1999.

Preliminary cost estimates identified in the master plan for
the highest priority recommendations add up to about $25 mil-
ion.

In its report to council, council's recreation facility planning
committee identified the problems with the faciliry, stating
that:

“ ... existing programs and spaces cannot keep up with cur-
rent demand.

“Rental groups would like increased times, adult users have
requested more space and time for length swimming, families
would like increased time access to the (kids) pool and there is
more demand for group and private rentals than the facility can
accommodate.”

Aquatic centre supervisor Jim Marvel estimated that at least

Multi-million-dollar overhaul
part of recreation master plan

a quarter of a million people use the facility cach year,

“The aquatic centre was ranked as the most: important
recreation facility in the (master plan),” he said, “and a whole
cross-section of the community uses it on a daily basis, Seniors,
children, adults ... it’s a well-used facility.”

‘The centre — which sports a 37.5 metre (123 1.}, six-lane
pool, a smaller children’s “teach poo!” and 1,100 sq. ft. (102
sq. m) weight room — was built in 1976.

It underwent a minor renovation in 1986 when the build-
ing was expanded to its current 19,806 sq. ft. (1,840 sq. m)
and a whirlpool and sauna were added.

The Recreational! Facilities Master Plan also calls for the
construction of a new community centre, upgrades to be made
to district sports fields and extensive renovation of the ice
arena, which sits adjacent the aquatic centre.

Construction on the arena is slated to begin in March and
will see new change rooms, public washrooms, a referee and
first aid areas added and general upgrades made to the storage,
office and lobisy areas of that faciliry.

While Koger Hughes Architectural Inc. didn’t tender the
fowest bid of the six groups vying for the aquatic centre con-
tract, Coun. Allan Williams said that it had a distinct edge when
it came tu previous experience.

In the past seven years the firm has designed, constructed or

Sunday, February 20, 2000 - North Shore News - 5

de assessed

renovated six such aquatic centres throughout the province.

In 1998 it oversaw the W.C. Blair Pool renovation in
Langley. upgrading the ozone treatment system, refitting the
pool's water features, adding a new fitness area and offices and
relocating existing retail space.

Past projects have also included the Eileen Dailly Leisure
Pool and Fitness Centre in Burnaby, the Riley Park Community
Centre Pool retrofit in Vancouver and, last year, the design and
construction of the Walnut Grove Aquatic Centre in the
Township of Langley.

Marvel has seen the firm's work before and said he teets
confident in its track record.

He was program manager at the Arbutus Club in Vancouver
when the company undertook a large-scale renovation of that
facility in 1996, completely refitting the pool and diving tank,
adding a new leisure pool, cafeteria, pub and other amenities.

“They did a great job there. They’re an excellent firm and I
know thev’ll do a great job here, too.”

Marvel said he wasn’c fussy about what sort of improve-
ments will be made to the centre, as long as the public plays an
integral role in deciding where the money will go and what
shape the expansion will take.

Coun. Williams told council that there are a number of
options and designs that the firm will examine when making its
assessment.

Waterslides and a “meandering stream” concept were both
discussed on Monday night.

Williams said it will likely be May before the firm makes its
recommendations to council.

rape material, eh,” according
to the search warrant.

Teen believed to have been victim of date

From page 1 Hospital, Pelkey wanted to

Hospital. The yirl had to be
carried into the emergency
ward,

Emergency physician Dr.
Jeremy Etherington recog-
nized her symptoms as those
routinely associated with the
date rape drug Gamma
Hydroxyburyrate (GHB).

“Dr. Etherington also
expressed concern about this
drug, which is becoming
more prevalent, stating the
effects are not wifling in
nature, but are serious and
routinely last for up to one
month,” according to a search
warrant request prepared by
West Vancouver Police Det.
Marv Pelkey.

Pelkey sought approval in

- the search warrant to obtain
blood samples drawn from the

have the samples analyzed for
evidence in a possible charge
of administrating a noxious
substance.

GHB and Rohypnol are
date rape drugs. Under the
influence of the drugs, a rape
victim = cannot) remember
being violated. The drags are
odourless and colourless.

The effects of GHB begin
within the first 30 minutes
and can last for several hours.
They include drowsiness and
dizziness graduating to confu-
sion, visual disturbances,
decreased blood pressure and
loss of memory.

Possible side effects associ-
ated with GHB are nausea,
vomiting, delusions, depres-
sion, vertigo, hallucinations,
seizures, respiratory distress,
loss of consciousness, slowed

According to the search
warrant, the teenage girl, a
Vancouver resident, fiad been
invited by a fellow
Collingwood student to his
New Year's party.

She asked to bring her
boyfriend. Initially the party-
giver was “apprehensive about
allowing” the boytriend to
come, but “finally relented,”
according to the search war-
rant.

At least seven teenagers
were at the party plus the
party-giver’s parents. The par-
ents went to bed, leaving the
teens on their own.

The teenage

girl told

police she drank half of a 355
mi (12 02.) bottle of cham-
Pagne, a beer, a giass of vodka
punch, a vodka shot and a
rum shot.

She felt she was reasonably
in control for most of the
evening, according to the
search warrant.

Another Collingwood stu-
dent offered her a portion ofa
mickey of rum he was carry-
ing. She drank a shot.

“In retrospect” — she
remembered that he “did not
offer others” a drink.

A short time later she felt
strange and collapsed. As
some of the teens and a parent

ICBC Claim?

rape drug

helped her, two of the boys in
the living room had a conver-

The girl later told police
she had dated him briefly and
he had once pnoned her and

-teenager at St. Paul’s — heart rate, amnesia, and coma.

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said he would like to rape her.
Three days after the inci-

dent the girl still could not

move or eat on her own.

sation about how much they
each liked the girl, The boy
that had offered her the rum
mickey: said, “Ya, great date

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