Splish Splash Thank You Bash Celebrates Pryde Aquatic and Wellness Centre and Community Support

On Saturday morning, the community came together to celebrate the official opening of the Pryde Aquatic and Wellness Centre at the Splish Splash Thank You Bash, a grand opening celebration dedicated to recognizing the donors, sponsors, and partners who made the state-of-the-art facility possible. Mayor Luke Charbonneau made a splash at the event —literally—by performing the first cannonball into the new pool!

MPP Lisa Thompson was also there to officially acknowledge the work that the Town has done with the $100,600 Capital Grant that it received from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) last summer. Funds from the OTF grant were used to purchase gymnasium equipment, as well as sports equipment for pickleball, volleyball, floor hockey and badminton, in addition to accessible aquatic equipment too.

"The opening of the Pryde Aquatic and Wellness Centre marks a proud moment for this community and reflects a shared commitment to health, inclusion, and active living", said Lisa Thompson, MPP for Huron-Bruce. "Through a $100,600 Capital grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, important investments were made in gymnasium equipment, multi-sport programming, and accessible aquatic features. These enhancements help ensure the centre is welcoming and usable for people of all ages and abilities, and I want to thank everyone whose dedication and hard work made this outstanding facility possible."

“This is an incredible day for Saugeen Shores,” said Mayor Charbonneau. “The Pryde Aquatic and Wellness Centre represents years of planning and collaboration, and it’s amazing to see this vision come to life. I want to thank our sponsors, donors, staff, and the entire community for making this possible.”

The public enjoyed an open house where they took part in a variety of family-friendly activities, refreshments, posed at the photo booth, and explored the new facility. One of the highlights was the Community Mural Painting, where participants painted individual tiles that will come together to form a vibrant mural symbolizing community spirit and collaboration. Attendees also had the chance to enter a draw for a one-year All Access Active Pass membership.

“This facility will serve our community for generations, promoting health, wellness, and connection,” said Mayor Charbonneau. “It’s more than a building. It’s a place where people of all ages and abilities can come together.”

The Centre will open for regular operational hours on Monday, January 26 beginning at 6 a.m. For more information about hours, programs, and memberships, visit www.saugeenshores.ca/PrydeAWC.

The Pryde Aquatic and Wellness Centre is designed to be a regional hub for recreation and wellness, offering an 8-lane competition pool, leisure pool, fitness centre, walking track, gymnasium, and multi-purpose program rooms to serve people of all ages and abilities. Construction of the Pryde Aquatic and Wellness Centre is a Major Initiative for the Town’s Community Services Department, as outlined in the Saugeen Shores 2025 Business Plan.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested nearly $105M into 732 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.