It's been a long journey for the Harbour Pool in Fort Saskatchewan.
In less than a month the pool will be celebrating its 40th anniversary.
Opening on December 17, 1982, the facility was built over a 10-month period and cost about $3.3 million dollars to construct. Upon opening, they featured a functional leisure pool.
Naomi Switzer, acting supervisor of aquatics operations at the Harbour Pool, says that there were some much loftier expectations for the pool when it was initially built.
"It was originally built with capacity for a wave pool," said Switzer. "Due to costs and costs-saving that was never operated and it wouldn't have been engineered correctly for the facility at that time."
While lots have changed over its 40-year existence, there are still plenty that has survived the test of time.
"It had the Orca Whale [slide] that was donated by the Kinsmen Club, and it was named Harkin and there were also little dolphins in the bay as well," said Switzer. "We've kept the dolphins and if you come to the pool, they are right behind the hot tub just as decorations."
Joining the dolphins as surviving features from that opening day is a sauna, warm pool, hot tub, beach area, diving board, and two rope swings.
Those coming to swim in Harbour's early days would also need a bit less to pay admission.
"Entry was $0.75 for children, a dollar for youth, and $1.50 for adults when it first opened in 1982."
To celebrate the milestone, the Harbour Pool is hosting 17 days of giveaways. All you have to do to join in on the fun is go down to the pool and write down some of your favourite things about the facility.
This will be done in the leadup to a birthday party happening on December 17 where swimmers will be able to enjoy some snacks and participate in a free swim.
On average, about 100,000 people come through their doors to swim every year.