Capital Daily for Thursday, September 24

After 55 years, Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre shuts its doors permanently this Friday, September 25th, so work can begin on the replacement voters approved in last year's referendum.

The plan was for programs to slide over to an interim spot at 851 Broughton Street, the old downtown YMCA-YWCA. The City is renaming it the Victoria Recreation Centre. There's a catch: a major water main leak flooded the building this summer, and the City now projects it won't open until early 2027.

That leaves a gap. There's no fall programming at either location this year, so swim lessons, aquafit, and drop-in swims are on hold until the interim facility is ready. When it does open, its smaller pool means fewer drop-in swim slots than Crystal Pool offered.

Until Friday, the Crystal Pool lobby has historical photos and a memory wall to sign, and admission comes with a commemorative sticker.

Somewhere along the northbound Trans-Canada near Thetis Lake, crews are opening up a major regional water main this Thursday, and until it's fixed, the Saanich Peninsula is drinking through a smaller straw.

With the primary transmission main out of service, the Peninsula switches to alternate infrastructure that operates at lower pressure and carries less capacity. That's why the Capital Regional District is asking homes and businesses across Saanich and the Peninsula to hold off on outdoor watering, car washing and other discretionary use.

West Saanich, Knockan Hill, Royal Oak, Prospect Lake and other parts of northwest Saanich may see reduced pressure at the tap while the work is underway. Water quality isn't expected to change, and North Saanich says most residents should keep getting normal service.

Crews are working around the clock, and the CRD expects the job done by Monday, Sept. 28.