The Crowsnest Community Pool has set its target date for opening.

June 10th is the first day the pool will be open to the public.

This date is a significant one as it marks the start of stage two of the Alberta government's open for summer plan meaning fewer restrictions across the province.

Pool Manager, Ryan Plante, says that stage will increase what the pool is able to offer.

"That stage allows us to do all of our programs as we normally would. Stage one wouldn't have allowed for any adult programs. We will be able to have lane swim, which will be limited to 10 people for the hour. We also have our aqua fit programs running as well. Those will also be limited to 10 people for the hour. We have our regular school lesson programs for the schools in town. We have swim club running and we'll be able to have some household swims. Those will be basically public swims but we recommend families come as a group so that they stay in their cohort and there is an adult there with the kids in case anything happens where we have a Covid situation."

Plante says restrictions on limited numbers for programs will stay in place until Stage 3 is implemented, potentially in late June.

"We will have to wait until Stage 3 where we have no restrictions before we can lift all of our restrictions on limited numbers for all of our programs. The household swim will be limited to 30 people and lane swim, aqua fit, aqua yoga and all those programs will be limited to 10 people. Until we get the go ahead from the Alberta government, we can't lift those restrictions on numbers due to the spacing in our change rooms."

Plante says that deck and lawn access will be provided this year.

"Families will be able to use the grass this year. We are not allowing any access to the lockers so we ask that visitors bring all of their belongings out onto the deck with them."

Other restrictions at this point include mask wearing in the facility.

"We're requiring the public to wear a mask at the facility. If they don't wear a mask into the facility, they won't be served. That includes, coming into the front lobby as well as in the change rooms both when they are entering and when they are exiting, they do have to wear a mask if they are inside the building at any point."

According to Plante, visitors will also be asked to leave contact information in case there is a positive case at the pool.

"We're also asking that visitors leave a name and phone number of families attending so that we can do contact tracing in the unlikely event there is a positive case that comes up. We're also asking that people only stay for public swims for an hour just so that we can have more people access the facility."

Lesson registration has also begun.

People are able to phone in and register their children for programs.

Anyone interested in booking lessons can do so by calling the pool at 403-562-8255.

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