Aquatic Centre Rant

[riverrat]

THIS WAS SUBMITTED TO NANAIMO INFORMATION (I guess they thought they were emailing the aquatic center):

Hi,the telephone system ( 250-756-5200) needs some serious attention...every civic holiday I have tried to call and see if the aquatic center is open and it just rings and rings and rings...Once I even called while standing in front of the attendant at the counter to try and show her that it was impossible to find out if they were open by phone. She had no logical explanation. The "online schedule" does not mention anything about holiday hours.

Also there is no mention of the maintenance shut down shown anywhere on the website.On more than one occasion I called in and was actually able get someone (during daytime business hours) to verify that everything was up and running and was assured it was, but upon entering the pool, found out that the steam room was out of order...

Is this really the best you can do? Remember..as civic employees are you not there to serve the public? It is very obvious you are good at taking care of yourselves, but how about us? Or am I asking way to much ? Thank you!

[Trailblazer]

I have used the facility regularly for many years & have found the staff very informative & helpful.
There is always new information on the bulletin boards & 'usually" the phone message system has all current information.
Why the bitching! perhaps a Union hater..

[vanislandrev]

Hmmm we are indeed living in the Information Overload era, the information is there - but sometimes hard to access.....

Sometimes updating the information isn't held at a high priority and I think this may be the case in this situation. The world moves too quickly for some people.

[riverrat]

Another submission from our contact form:

i took my grand kids to saturday and monday labour day weekend swimming. The family rooms were pig stys. The bathroom reeked of urine and the floors had horrible debris that was tracked into the pool area. The life guards did not attempt to clean it nor did they attempt to advise anyone entering the pool to shower first. A person would think that there is really no need for your showering rule if it is not enforced. Further the pool and it's staff promote germ warfare, the spread of germs, flu and bacteria, the cleaning is non existent. I am a visiting grandmother from vernon our family change rooms and dry and clean. Germs and bacteria are cleaned after every hour. Instead your lifeguard assemble in a circle to discuss i do not know what but center themselves instead of taking time to clean the washrooms or family change rooms or patrol the deep end. Why is that? In 3 hours i saw one guard, the same guard and the only guard that circulated, he make 2 passes into the deep end - not one other life guard came into this area. Our aquatic centre is not a cesspool for germs, and our life guards seek out and stop people trying to enter the pool without showering and ask them to leave or to go back and shower. As well no one is allowed to run on the pool deck.

[All Ages Music Concerts]

Too bad the Parks and Recreation Department does not have a web page where people can give their feed back on these services? or do they?

[Nanaimoknow]

You can always email City of Nanaimo Parks, Recreation and Culture at parks@nanaimo.ca with concerns, questions or comments. There is no 'feedback' forum within the City of Nanaimo website at this time yet you can find them on Facebook. The City Facebook page is monitored regularly by staff including a representative of the Parks, Recreation and Culture Department.

[All Ages Music Concerts]

You can always email City of Nanaimo Parks, Recreation and Culture at parks@nanaimo.ca with concerns, questions or comments. There is no 'feedback' forum within the City of Nanaimo website at this time yet you can find them on Facebook. The City Facebook page is monitored regularly by staff including a representative of the Parks, Recreation and Culture Department.

Here is the facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=ci....4013285623..1

[riverrat]

Here's the latest email submitted to us:

HI, I would just like to say how disappointed I was today about the children at the wave pool. This is the second time in a row I have left early, out of safety concerns for my children. There were many teenagers horsing around to an extreme, especially in the river portion of the pool. I expressed my concern to the lifeguard who didn't seem to have much weight or control. At one point my son was hit in the face because another boy was jumping into the river from above, not the opening. I doubt I will be returning to the pool any time soon, and I will be advising my friends, colleagues and students as well.

[Smitty]

Their website didn't stop me from going when they were closed over Christmas.
I was there because Nanaimo waters are polluted and cold, and I might get arrested if someone else were concerned for my safety and comfort.

[kickidee]

I hope the cantact now has the link and does post it to the facebook site as well. Are there any regualtory bodies that moniter the cleanliness and safety standards in these public facilities?
The aquatic center is so new and we dont want it getting a bad rep or falling into disrepair from a lack of interest on the part of whoever might be responsible.
Everything ese is regualted to the hilt, there must be someone "VIHA like" looking after public recreational facilities?