The Steinbach Aquatic Centre is open once again, after being closed for the past two and a half weeks.
Jane Hansen, Aquatic Centre Manager says that the facility has been buzzing with activity with city staff and a cleaning crew who were hard at work prepping for another year after which they welcomed a film crew for a special shoot that added some extra excitement.
“It was a special event. We had a film crew working in both our indoor and outdoor facilities for about a day and a half. It was really exciting to watch the whole process!”
When asked about the number of people involved, Hansen estimated, “Initially, during setup, there were about 25 to 30 people. But on the day of filming, we had upwards of 60 to 70 people running around!”
Hansen continued, “It’s never happened here before, so it was a new experience for us. Watching everyone do their jobs and seeing how much work goes into making a movie is pretty amazing.”
She noted that the film crew had great things to say about the facility. “They loved it! A lot of them came in and said, ‘Oh, I didn’t even know this was here!’”
With the facility closed for a few extra days, Hansen confirmed, “Yes, the film company absolutely rented our facility, so the city is being compensated for that.”
With the storm that rolled through on Monday and Tuesday, the shoot was cut short.
“It put a small damper on filming, for sure, but they still managed to get a few shots in. You can’t really control the weather.”
Looking ahead, Hansen expressed interest in future film projects, saying, “It depends on our programming here, which is our top priority. But if they can work with us during downtime, absolutely. It was a fun experience, and good for the community.”
Now, as the Steinbach Aquatic Centre gears up for the fall season, Hansen noted that registration for swimming lessons has been strong. “After last week, we have over 1,100 kids registered, and there are still spots available. People keep registering until the lessons start.”
With school programming coming back, Hansen anticipates around 400 more kids from local schools joining in. “It’s all very exciting. We’re starting to get back to normal after COVID.”
After a two-week shutdown for cleaning and maintenance, Hansen praised the hard work of her team.
“We have the Steinbach Parks and Recreation staff, lifeguards, and maintenance staff all pitching in. It’s a big job, but it’s much appreciated when everyone sees how clean the facility is when it’s all done.”
With everything in place, the Steinbach Aquatic Centre is ready for a busy and exciting fall season and Hansen notes, “We’re open again and ready for everyone to come back.”
With files from Reporter Judy Peters