Six months after shutting down due to COVID-19, things are coming back to life at North Vancouver Recreation & Culture’s community centres, pools and gyms.
North Van Rec announced this week that pools and programming will begin coming online on Sept. 8.
“We're very happy to be partially reopening some more of the facilities and seeing more customers and residents coming in. Like everyone, we're excited,” said Jeremy Neill, marketing co-ordinator for North Van Rec. “We’re keeping an eye on the current situation and getting ready to adjust things if needed. But it’s a positive step.”
Starting on Sept. 8, people will be able to go for a dip and swim some lengths at the Harry Jerome and Ron Andrews community rec centres, although swimmers will have to register in advance and follow strict new guidelines. Changerooms and lockers will not be available, so people will be expected to come and go in their swimwear. Fun accoutrements like diving boards, slides, climbing walls and rope swings won’t be available.
“It will obviously be different because we're limiting the number of people in the pools,” Neill said.
Karen Magnussen’s pool will open on Oct. 5 and the Delbrook pool will follow after some repairs are completed.
The first chance to register for Aquafit and Master Swim comes at 9 a.m. on Sept. 2.
Swimming lessons start on Sept. 21, with registration beginning on Sept. 9 at 9 a.m.
Fitness centres have been open at a reduced capacity for about two weeks but only by appointment with a maximum of 75 minutes, with 15 minutes of downtime between appointments to allow for extra cleaning of equipment and screening of gym users.
Preschools and youth centres are also making their return, albeit with reduced capacity on Sept. 8, with registration starting Sept. 2 at 9 a.m.
Recreation programming will have a phased approach. People will be able to sign up for single “welcome back” classes to make sure they’re comfortable before committing to large blocks of classes later in the month.
Public skating will resume in late September and skating lessons will make their return in October.
Pottery and art studios, racket sports, and parent and tot open gym sessions are also set to restart.
All of the reopening plans must be in compliance with guidelines from the province, the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association and WorkSafeBC.
Masks are not manitory but visitors are asked to maintain two metres of distance from everyone else in the building.
As with all publicly accessible places, anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or has even mild symptoms is asked to keep out, as has anyone who has been in contact with a confirmed case or has recently arrived from outside the country.
Even with some element of risk remaining, staying connected, exercising and stimulating one’s artistic side at community centres has a role to play in public health, Neill said.
“That's a big part of people's lives,” he said. “There's a lot of stresses and strains on all of us at the moment. I think something that benefits your physical and your mental health is important and we heard from the community that that is important to them, especially at this time.”
