The pandemic has made day-to-day operations at the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre more challenging.
The facility implemented the Restrictions Exemption Program, something Chief Executive Officer, Blair Felesky said has been extremely difficult.
"After three complete closures, we're just grateful we're able to continue to serve the community again, but it doesn't come without some very unique and significant obstacles," said Felesky. "The REP program, that's a macroeconomic pressure that's been very impactful on us."
Prior to COVID, the facility was seeing about 6,400 members using its services. Following the last closure, Felesky said that membership numbers sit around 4,400. He said after the REP program was enforced he anticipated a drop of about 20 per cent to the facilities usage, but was pleasantly surprised when it dropped only around five per cent .
"Since September the 16th, we've actually returned back to pre REP," he said. "Usage is stabilizing, we're definitely not back to where we were, but it is on a good trajectory right now. The future is very, very exciting for Spray Lake. It's a wonderful facility, but it's just getting used to a new normal right now for everyone including the staff, but forward-looking, there isn't a facility like this in the province."
The facility prides itself on being inclusive, Felesky said, but the REP program is difficult because it does not meet everyone's needs.
"We can only hope the day returns that we open our doors again freely and welcome our community back to the facility because frankly, the operational complexities from the REP program are not long-term sustainable," said Felesky.
The last few years have proven to be an uphill battle for the facility with labour-force and supply chain issues and inflation are making simple and complex task more difficult.
"Hardware replacement now takes weeks and months versus days," said Felesky.
The facility is also building on its customer relations module, which Felesky said is a software program that will allow users to check in with their phones for fitness classes as well as other self check-in areas around the facility.
"At the end, the product will be very satisfying for our users, but it takes time to build out that infrastructure," said Felesky. "In time the dream is to be able to add to our user experience and allow them to move directly as opposed to accumulating at guest services to do a check-in."
Labour pressures are also troubling the facility, particularly in the aquatics department. Workers are either not returning after closures or are not maintaining needed certifications. Felesky said SLSFSC is not the only facility feeling the pinch as other rec centres are experiencing the same shortages.
"It is not a near-term fix, it takes a lot of time to develop aquatics personnel because it is a specialized workforce, but that is a condition we're going to see here for some time," said Felesky.
While other facilities have chosen to minimize their pool hours or close on selective days, Felesky reassures Cochranites that SLSFSC is doing everything they can to maintain operational hours.
