West Fraser Supports Pool Renovation in Williams Lake
Williams Lake, B.C. – Timber giant West Fraser has announced a commitment of $500,000 towards the proposed renovation of Sam Ketcham pool in Williams Lake.
The company, a major employer in the city, also contributed to the construction of the original pool in 1981 in honour of one of its founders, Sam Ketcham.
“Sam Ketcham long recognized the importance of having great recreational facilities in our communities,” says Ray Ferris, West Fraser’s VP of Wood Products. “As part of the fabric of this community since 1955, and where Sam spent so much of his time, we are pleased to be a supporter of the renovations to this valued facility.”
Williams Lake Mayor Kerry Cook calls the contribution “exciting news.”
“We just thank them for their ongoing community support and we think it’s very positive going into the referendum.”
The renovation hinges on a referendum November 15th which will ask voters if they approve borrowing up to $10 million over 20 years.
The remaining $11.3 million required will be made up from grants, fundraising and capital reserves.
If successful, the renovated pool area of the complex will be renamed “West Fraser Aquatic Centre and Sam Ketcham Pool.”
Earlier this month West Fraser also committed $1 million ($500,000 contribution, $500,000 in matching funds) towards a soon to be built hockey rink in Quesnel – the newly named West Fraser Centre.
Comments
Now let’s see Canfor buck up around here. I’m sure they have done their share of donating but hey, let’s not let West Fraser get all the hoopla.
Tractor, around here? 250 News would appear to represent 250 area exchange. Not just Prince George.
Yeah I meant PG. There is no West Fraser here.
Canfor has money in the aquatic center.
Now it would be nice to see corporate money go into the Four Seasons but I doubt that would be allowed. The pool is in a planned increasing run down state so that the PAC can be built at that location.
it makes me so angry every time i got to four seasons and see the state of disrepair that building is in. so many kids and families from the VLA who, if four seasons closes, will have no access to a similar type of facility, as the aquatic centre is a signficant distance if you don’t have a vehicle. i wish a council candidate would pipe up and mention this pool and any vision they may have for it. how many people utilize the pools vs. the art gallery or civic centre on a regular basis? i would fathom to guess that the art gallery brings in a few dozen people on a good weekday, while four season likely brings in several hundred, more on a weekend or during the summer, but there is no talk of altering service levels at the art gallery. now, don’t get me wrong, i believe an art gallery is a benefical resource in a community, but if we don’t have the money to keep all facilities operating at decent levels with required maintenance, cuts need to be made at those facilities that are severely underutilized. I agree with seamut that the city is purposely letting four seasons die a slow death, so in a couple years they can turn to the citizens and say, ‘whoops, it’s a dump, we need to close it’. put the money into it and bring it back to what it was and could be again.
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