Repsol Centre likely to get funding boost from city; Inglewood, Beltline pools’ lifespan extended

CALGARY – Some of Calgary’s recreation centres are getting some added support from the city, including the Repsol Centre, which will likely be getting a major boost in funding.

A council committee voted in favour of investing $45 million into the centre so it can add specialized aquatic amenities.

Tied into this decision, councillors also agreed to extend the lifespan of the aging Beltline and Inglewood pools by another year after they were threatened with closure a couple of years ago.

“It’s the exact same money we’d approved previously to see if we could make this work. And [remember] that outside of these pools they’re important community spaces,” said Ward 8 Councillor Evan Woolley.

“The idea here is that since we’ve done this work and we’ve identified the source of funding for Repsol, a number of other opportunities have unearthed themselves, if I can put it that way, and I think it’s time for us to act on them,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

This will go back to the rest of the council for a full vote at a later date.

The added funding and life spans were approved in an effort to improve the city’s downtown recreation options.