Kitimat, B.C. – Kitimat residents looking to seek refuge from B.C.’s heat wave and swim in their municipal pool have been out of luck this summer.

The Sam Lindsay Aquatic Centre is still closed even though the District’s 14 week strike ended nearly a month ago.

“We’re currently sending away a water test to Northern Health for approval to allow our staff to come back in and get trained back up to be able to walk the deck,” says deputy director for Leisure Services Shaun O’Neil. “So that process takes about a week for the tests to come back and if all goes well, we expect the pool to re-open the week of July 27.”

Along with the pool closure, Radley Park has also been shut-down for maintenance though it’s set to open the week of July 10.

He says Hirsch Creek Park and six camping sites have been open for just over a week.

O’Neil acknowledges the delays have been hard on area residents but says they’ve taken it all in stride.

“For sure it’s definitely been a challenge but we’ve also found that folks have been very receptive to the media releases we’ve given them as far as where we’re at in the process,” he says. “But thank you to the public for your patience and understanding during this time of transition.”