Summer has officially arrived in Portage la Prairie, at least at Splash Island.
The popular outdoor pool on Island Park kicked off its season Monday, welcoming swimmers for the first official day of summer fun, proving that even cloudy skies can't dampen the spirit of the season.
Despite the grey and cool weather, the unmistakable sounds of splashing and laughter filled the air as a couple of local student classes were the first to break in the water for the year.
For those wondering how anyone could brave the cool temperatures, the secret is in the water.
Heated fun on a cool day
The pool is heated to a comfortable temperature, making the swim enjoyable regardless of the weather. Zapphira Major, Recreation Manager for the Portage Regional Recreation Authority (PRRA), says the first swimmers of the season had a great time.
"Not the weather we dreamed of for our opening day, but the pool's heated, so the kids that were scheduled to come still had a great time," Major says. "Once you're in, it's still great. We're looking forward to hopefully the rest of this week and maybe this weekend being a little busier, a little sunnier, a little bit warmer. As for summer plans, we're just hoping for good weather and good crowds."
A 'Baer' in the water
"Yep, that's me, and you might wonder how I ended up in this situation."
For your amusement, PortageOnline's own Tylor Baer tested the waters to mark the occasion. Some might even call it a rare sighting of a wild water 'baer' in his natural habitat, all in the name of confirming that the water is in fact, perfect for a swim.
"Don't worry, I was happy to volunteer for the job."
Splash Island is now open daily for the summer season.