Project Overview

The scope of work for this phase of the project will involve the following targets:

The construction of a new aquatic facility comprising of an 8-lane, 25 metre pool as well as a separate warm-water leisure pool;
Undertaking accessibility upgrades throughout the existing facility, including the addition of a lift, accessible change rooms, and barrier-free viewing areas;
Installing new aquatic change rooms, including creation of a family change room;
Incorporating new Indigenous Legacy Space, in collaboration with the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund;
Incorporating energy conservation measures throughout the facility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with its operations;
Designing the building to be Net-Zero ready, meaning that the amount of energy needed to operate the building in a given year can be produced directly on site in the future, typically through the use of solar panels;
Keeping the building operational during construction and minimizing facility and programming downtime.

W.J. Henderson Recreation Centre exterior in early 2023 pre-project construction.

Growth projections developed as part of several studies commissioned in recent years estimate that Loyalist Township’s population will increase to almost 26,000 residents by the year 2046.

This projected growth, combined with aging infrastructure, has prompted the need to renovate and expand existing recreation facilities to meet the levels of service that are expected by the community.

During the Special Council Meeting on November 9, 2023, Council endorsed the renewal of the W.J. Henderson Recreation Centre which will include the construction of a new aquatic facility.

During the meeting, Council received a Validation Report which summarized the proposed design for the W.J. Henderson Recreation Centre Renewal Project including costs, strategies, and timelines for the implementation for the project’s first phase. The first phase represents an improvement to the services which have historically been offered at the facility to meet the needs of a growing Loyalist community.