Laurentian University has decided to form a joint planning committee with the City of Greater Sudbury for the renewal of its athletic facilities, including its long-shutdown pool, following a meeting last month.
Despite not providing specific timelines for Jeno Tihanyi Pool’s repair and reopening, the university has been issuing regular updates to the public, with the latest one in February 2024.
According to a report by TimminsToday on continued deliberations on the pool, in the public update, the university expressed discussions with representatives from the City of Greater Sudbury about the joint planning committee will take place when possible. The university is committed to delivering another update by April 30, 2024.
According to the same report, in request for a comment by a city manager on the meeting’s decision, the city expressed a lack of information on the motion’s basis but anticipates learning more about the support sought by the university. The city sees this as an opportunity to contribute to the ongoing Aquatics Service and Facility Review, which explores non-municipal pool infrastructure in conjunction with community needs. The review is set to conclude by September 2024, focusing on Greater Sudbury’s pool and aquatic facility repair status, long-term plans, and community requirements.
The report further states the head coach of the Sudbury Laurentian Swim Club—which had earlier this year put in a plea to the university to reopen the pool—found the latest update on the club’s long-closed home pool to be somewhat unsatisfactory. He questioned the lack of progress in discussions since December 2023, particularly concerning the next level of dialogue. He also emphasized the importance of talking to partners about specifics for making informed decisions in the ongoing process.
