Matsqui Recreation Centre
Matsqui, British Columbia

Built in 1991 as an adjunct to an existing ice arena, the Matsqui Recreation Centre has proved to be a major hit with all its users, having an average daily attendance of 1,072 in 1997. The centre incorporates a variety of innovative design applications, combining an eight lane competition pool and a wave pool within the same body of water, and it is the first wave pool in Canada to have deck-level entry along a side of the pool other than the shallow end. Other features include a deep tank with one and three metre diving, a 55 metre enclosed indoor/outdoor waterslide, a warm shallow two-level tots’ pool with interactive fountain play sprays and other water spray units. The ability to install bleacher seating (for upwards of 700 people) over the wave pool is a feature which allowed the Matsqui Recreation Centre to host the 1992 Summer Provincial Swim Meet and the 1995 Summer Games.

Both the sauna and steam room have “grass thatch” roofs to blend in with the tropical Fijian decor of the pool area, which includes Polynesian murals and natural stonework, exotic creatures and Polynesian statues spray water, flocks of parrots fly overhead, and colourful “bubbles” suspended from the ceiling.

The pool uses an ozone water treatment system, reducing the use of chlorine. The whole centre’s energy system is computer controlled to reduce staff and energy costs.