UNews - Max Bell Regional Aquatic Centre

Boil Water Order in effect at ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, throughout region

trevor.kenney — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 17:50:09 +0000

The City of Lethbridge has issued a Boil Water Order. This action does affect those living, working and studying on our Lethbridge campus.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will remain open with regularly scheduled classes for the duration of this Boil Water Order.

On Wednesday, Mar. 12, the City of Lethbridge declared a local state of emergency due to a critical water storage situation. In response, the City closed its pools and arenas to conserve water. Following the City’s lead, the U of L closed the Max Bell Regional Aquatic Centre and showers in the 1st Choice Savings Centre. The pool will remain closed and showers turned off until the Boil Water Order is lifted.

For additional information on the status of facility re-opening, please look for information here.

The U of L is making arrangements to bring additional bottled water on campus and is taking safety precautions for the duration of this Boil Water Order period. According to the City of Lethbridge, this Order is in effect until further notice and is expected to last several days.

Drinking Water

During the Boil Water Order, students, staff and faculty should not drink water from the fountains or taps and are encouraged to drink boiled or bottled water while on campus. Students living in residence, who have access to a stove, need to follow the Boil Water Order, which is included in a link below.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is working with suppliers in an effort to ensure bottled water is available on campus during this situation. It is expected that a significant shipment will arrive Friday morning. Availability may be short in the interim though. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to bring their own water with them until the Boil Water Order is lifted.

Washrooms

Washroom facilities at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ are operational. Please do not consume water from the taps.

Food Services

Food Services will be open on campus. Some regular menu items may not be available as adjustments are made to ensure safety of patrons.

Health Services

The U of L’s Health Centre is aware of this situation. Typical illnesses from untreated water can include signs/symptoms of diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, and fever.

If you or someone you know is SEVERELY ill, please call 911 for an ambulance to transport them to the hospital.

If you are generally ill with symptoms that are manageable, please call the Health Centre at 403-329-2484 ext. 1 and ask to speak with a nurse about your symptoms. If the phone is not answered, please leave your name, phone number, and your symptoms to the confidential voice mail system. The Heath Centre will track illness due to this water event and will return your call to provide health advice on dealing with your illness.

If you are ill and unsure of what to do, you can Call Health Link Alberta 1-866-408-5465.

Additional Safety Measures

Fire safety/suppression systems are unaffected.

Signage has been placed by water fountains, building entrances and in washrooms alerting the campus community and visitors not to drink the water. Additionally, information about the Boil Water Order, and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s activities related to it, is posted on the Notice Board, Digital Signage and U of L social media channels.

More Information

Information about the City of Lethbridge Boil Water Order and be found on the City’s website.

Alberta Health Services has additional information about what to do during and after a Boil Water Order.

If there is a significant change in the situation, we will notify our campus community by e-mail. Also, please watch the Notice Board or the U of L’s Facebook page for additional updates.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ ready for a day of play

trevor.kenney — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 22:41:04 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, together with 1st Choice Savings and Credit Union, is once again taking the opportunity to help the community engage in play.

After an enormously successful inaugural event, which drew thousands of children and parents, the U of L is readying to host its second annual – and free – Play Day event on Family Day (Monday, February 18). The circus-themed event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness, the Max Bell Regional Aquatic Centre and the Ascent Climbing Centre.

"Play Day is designed to reach out to the community, but on another level it's trying to communicate about the value of play for families," says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President, Dr. Mike Mahon, who introduced Play Day at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in 2012 to promote the positive aspects of play and its influence on creating healthy individuals and healthy communities. "The concept is really focused on families, not just on children – we are encouraging families to come and play together."

Katie Mahon, daughter of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ President Dr. Mike Mahon, assists in the construction zone at last year's inaugural Play Day event. This year's circus-themed party should be even bigger and better.

The circus theme of this year's event includes a number of new activities added to the popular play zones from the inaugural Play Day. Among the added activities is a Music Zone where drop-in Kindermusik classes and sound bingo will entertain children aged zero to 18 months, as well as a drop-in world drumming area. Carnival games have been added, as well as a Toonie Barbecue area and a Fitastic Play zone for toddler fitness. For those daring enough to scale the heights, the Ascent Climbing Centre's climbing wall will also be open to the public.

"We're excited to be a part of Play Day again this year, and I think it will be even bigger and better than last year's event," says Brian Kinahan (BMgt '79), president and CEO of major sponsor 1stChoice Savings. "As a community-minded organization, we're thrilled to partner with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and present this opportunity for southern Alberta families to come together and enjoy the amenities here at the U of L 1st Choice Savings Centre for a day of play."

Last year, a massive cardboard construction zone was a hit with participants of all ages, and will be back this year, with even more space (and cardboard) to play with.

"It was so much fun to see parents and young kids playing together," says Mahon. "They were cutting shapes and playing make believe and the parents were playing as much as the kids were, and that was really cool to watch. That's the real sprit of Play Day and if we as a university can contribute to families by encouraging play, then we're doing a good thing."

Following is a list of free activities available at Play Day 2013

Science – Airzookas; Air Pressure Funnel; Science Toy Circus

Technology – Tri-flexa Hexagons; Scratch Programming; Mobius Strip

Art & Creative – Carnival Hats; Bubble Painting

Free Build – Cardboard Fort Building

Physical Activity – Basketball; Futsal; Open Gymnastics; Bouncy Castles; Fitastic Play; Climbing Wall

Aquatic – Open Swimming

Music – Drop-in Kindermusik; Sound Bingo; World Drumming

Carnival Games

Face Painting

Photo Booth

Summer campus projects give new look

trevor.kenney — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 17:26:01 +0000

As another academic year gets underway, new and returning students, staff and faculty will see some significant changes to the U of L's physical campus.

The Department of Facilities and its Project Management Office have been working diligently to create and renovate a variety of new and improved spaces.

This past summer was one of the largest building seasons the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has ever seen – about $30 million worth – making our campus the busiest building site south of Calgary. While construction crews have been working around the clock and most projects are near completion, not all are finished.

The new quad area north of Markin Hall promises to give the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ another parkland setting, complete with rolling hills and well-lit walking paths.

The Facilities department appreciates everyone's patience as crews wrap up the remaining construction, and ask that all posted signs be obeyed to ensure everyone's safety.

The second and final phase of the mechanical upgrades to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Centre for the Arts should be done by early September. A typical break-in period of new equipment is expected to follow. The project will not only improve air quality but also create a more energy efficient building operation.

Several areas of the PE Building are also wrapping up construction, including the finishing touches on the south plaza entrance as well as the indoor PE staircase, both of which should be open by October.

The newly renovated day-use change rooms in the Max Bell Regional Aquatic Centre should also be operational by early October. The nearby underground Physical Education Tunnel re-opened just prior to the first day of classes.

The new sports medicine clinic in PE100, the area below the south end of the running track, is on schedule to open by the end of September. Once complete, the clinic will feature physiotherapy and exam rooms, treatment areas and doctor's offices.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Quad north of Markin Hall, featuring a core open space surrounded by small rolling hills, well-lit sidewalks and landscaping should be ready for use by October.

The final details of the parking lot redevelopment will also conclude later this month. The lots have been redesigned to offer more practical parking and improve pedestrian safety. Phase 2 of the parking lot project will get underway in spring 2013.

Perhaps the biggest project on campus, the ongoing construction of the 259-bed Aperture Park residence is on schedule and set to open July 2013.

Off campus, the downtown Penny Building will undergo renovations starting mid-September.

Details on these projects can be found at www.uleth.ca/facilities.

For more information on any of these projects, contact Brian Sullivan at 403-329-2592.

This story first appeared in the September 2012 issue of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Brief Power Outage Affects Wellness Centre, Turcotte Hall & Max Bell Pool, 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. Aug. 23

trevor.kenney — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 16:34:51 +0000

Between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. Thursday, August 23, the U of L Electrical Department is scheduling maintenance to the main high voltage power equipment feeding the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness, the Physical Education Building, the Max Bell Regional Aquatic Centre and Turcotte Hall.

The power will be off for approximately three hours.

Emergency power and lighting will not be affected.

If you have any questions or concern please contact Tal Meidinger, Electrical Systems Manager: (403) 329-2712

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Holiday hours

trevor.kenney — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 21:32:22 +0000

The majority of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge campus will close its doors for the holiday season beginning 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 24. The campus will essentially be closed from this date through to 5 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 4. However, those hoping to visit the U of L's athletic facilities will still have the opportunity to do so throughout the holiday season.

1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness

The 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness, the Fitness Centre, the Ascent Climbing Centre and the Max Bell Regional Aquatic Centre are all open over the holidays - except for Christmas Day (Saturday, Dec. 25) and New Year's Day (Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011).

To walk, swim or run off your turkey, ham and holiday snacks, visit the following fitness facility websites to learn more about their holiday operating hours: Max Bell Pool Schedule; Ascent Climbing Centre Schedule; Fitness Centre Schedule.

For additional information, call 403-329-2706 or visit the Sport and Recreation Services website.

Campus Security / Building Access

Most building entrances will be locked throughout the holiday season, except those at major campus entry points. Security staff are on duty at all times and can be reached by calling 403-329-2345.

There will be minimal public access to most buildings on campus from Saturday, Dec. 25 until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 4.

The following entrances are open 24 hours:

- ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall, North entrance, Level 6
- ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Library, main entrance by the Aperture Drive Bus Loop
- 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness (north and south entrances)
- Turcotte Hall, west section (sliding doors)

The following entrances are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall, Level 4 entrance
- ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Centre for the Arts, Level 4 entrance

The following buildings are closed to the public until 5 a.m. on Jan. 4:
- Students' Union Building
- Turcotte Hall (east section)
- Anderson Hall
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience
- Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building
- Markin Hall
- Park Way Service Complex

Security personnel are on duty 24 hours a day. If you have questions or concerns, call the emergency number at 403-329-2345. Those on campus can dial ext. 2345.

Swimming at the heart of Nicol family

trevor.kenney — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 18:57:52 +0000

Rarely a day goes by when Dr. Chris Nicol does not have a busy schedule. And yet, in between the phone calls, meetings and deadlines, Nicol makes a point to keep one window of time open for just himself – call it pool maintenance.

You'll find Nicol in the U of L's Max Bell Regional Aquatic Centre pool nearly every lunch hour, swimming his customary two kilometres before getting back to his duties as dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science. Go a little earlier in the day and you'll likely catch his son, third-year history major, Jeffrey, training with the Pronghorns swim team. It wasn't too long ago that Nicol's wife Lorraine, a research associate in the Economics Department and PhD student in water management, was also a pool regular.

Swimming has been at the heart of everything the Nicol family has done for the better part of the last 15 years, and with Jeffrey (20) just hitting his prime and younger sister Rachel (17) blowing up on the international scene this past summer, it promises to be a central focus moving forward.

"There wasn't really any grand design to turn them all into competitive swimmers," Chris says of his children. Don't forget 19-year-old Alastair, who also swam competitively before turning his focus to music. "At an early age though, because Lorraine and I were quite often at the pool, it was an obvious family activity to do."

Lorraine Nicol, left, Jeffrey Nicol, centre, and Chris Nicol, right, have been able to balance the demands of both athletics and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

It runs in the genes, as Chris was a highly competitive swimmer in his native Scotland before coming to Canada to compete for Queen's ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ while achieving his master's and PhD degrees. A breaststroker, Chris placed third in the Ontario university championships in the 100m breast and would later win both the 100m and 200m breast events in the inaugural World Masters Games in Toronto in 1985.

By the time he met and married Lorraine, they were working at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Regina and swimming had become a big part of both of their lives. The kids naturally took to the water and when competitive swimming called, the parents, just as naturally, worked it into their routine. When the couple moved to Lethbridge 10 years ago, Lorraine set aside certain career aspirations and made swimming the focus. She was president of the L.A. Swim Club for four years and a member of the board for a total of six.

"For parents who are so connected to their kids through a sport like this, the act of parenting, I think, becomes exceptionally easy," says Lorraine. "I can't remember when I've ever had an argument with my kids.

"You spend so much time with them that they know how much we've supported their sport. I wouldn't call them sacrifices but if I'd made other career choices, I would not have had that flexibility to spend 30 to 40 hours a week with them and their swimming."

The sport has literally taken them around the globe. Switzerland, Luxembourg, England, Spain, Costa Rica, and just this past summer, Singapore and Hawaii, have all been visited to attend various meets and training camps.

"I don't think we've ever taken a holiday that hasn't been connected to a swim meet," says Lorraine.

All the while, the couple has had to balance their own academic careers and instill a work ethic in their children that speaks to both athletics and studies.

"You get efficient at using your time," says Chris. "These guys have picked up on that, having seen how we operate, in terms of if we have work to do, you get down to it."

Jeffrey, who achieved personal best times in each of his long course swims in Victoria this past spring, says the student-athlete balance isn't always easy.

"I'd say the hardest year was Grade 12 when I really had to bear down and focus on my ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ," he says. "My swimming suffered that year, I didn't post any best times, but it paid off in that it got me the marks I needed to get into a good university."

The discipline of elite competitive swimming transfers well into the world of academia.

"You don't always see immediate results in the work you put in," says Chris. "Sometimes you have to put in a bit more time than you thought but you have to stick at it and not give up. They've obviously learned that with swimming. When it comes to the academic side, maybe we have to do a bit more convincing, but I think they're getting the message."

Whether Rachel keeps tradition alive and comes to the U of L next fall remains to be seen, but with Jeffrey still going strong with the Horns and both Chris and Lorraine busy with their roles at the U of L, expect to see the Nicol family as regulars in the pool area for the foreseeable future.

"I can't even describe how incredible a journey this has been, and it has helped both Chris and I grow as individuals and as parents as well," says Lorraine. "And to hear them still say, after so many ups and downs and injuries and highs and lows, that they are still excited to swim – I love hearing that, because then we know the journey is just beginning."

GET THE FACTS

· Jeffrey made huge strides with the Horns program last season. "From my perspective, he made a major transition and ramped things up to a whole new level," says Chris, as Jeffrey jumped from top-20 status to top-10 in the national 200m breaststroke rankings. "In terms of where he was last year to this year, he's gone to another tier on the national scene."

· Rachel exploded as an international star this past summer, winning three medals (gold, two bronze) at the Youth Olympics in Singapore.

· Both Jeffrey and Rachel benefit from work with sports psychologists, while Chris and Lorraine have provided the pair with tutors, many of which are Education students at the U of L, to help with schooling.

· Chris has been dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science for 10 years. Lorraine, who has two master's degrees, is currently in her second year of a PhD studying biosystems and biodiversity.

Swimming at the heart of Nicol family

trevor.kenney — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 19:59:36 +0000

"For parents who are so connected to their kids through a sport like this, the act of parenting, I think, becomes exceptionally easy," says Lorraine. "I can't
remember when I've ever had an argument with my kids.

"I don't think we've ever taken a holiday that hasn't been connected to a swim meet," says Lorraine.

All the while, the couple has had to balance their own academic careers and instill a work ethic in their children that speaks to both athletics and studies.

"You get efficient at using your time," says Chris. "These guys have picked up on that, having seen how we operate, in terms of if we have work to do, you get down to it."

Jeffrey, who achieved personal best times in each of his long course swims in Victoria this past spring, says the student-athlete balance isn't always easy.

The discipline of elite competitive swimming transfers well into the world of academia.

GET THE FACTS

• Jeffrey made huge strides with the Horns program last season. "From my perspective, he made a major transition and ramped things up to a whole new level," says Chris, as Jeffrey jumped from top-20 status to top-10 in the national 200m breaststroke rankings. "In terms of where he was last year to this year, he's gone to another tier on the national scene."

• Rachel exploded as an international star this past summer, winning three medals (gold, two bronze) at the Youth Olympics in Singapore.

• Both Jeffrey and Rachel benefit from work with sports psychologists, while Chris and Lorraine have provided the pair with tutors, many of which are Education students at the
U of L, to help with schooling.

• Chris has been dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science for 10 years. Lorraine, who has two master's degrees, is currently in her second year of a PhD studying biosystems and biodiversity.

Rec. facilities popular with community

trevor.kenney — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:48:37 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge recreation facilities are proving to be a hub of activity, and it's not only for students, faculty and staff of the institution.

Lethbridge City Council celebrated the success of a healthy partnership with the U of L Monday after the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ presented an update on the community usage rates of their recreation facilities.

"I am pleased to go before council to present them with information on the partnership we have," says Deb Marek, facilities & services manager at the U of L. "We are proud to report that residents' use of these facilities is high."

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge operates and maintains the Max Bell Regional Aquatic Centre, the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness and the Community Sports Stadium.

All facilities received a portion of their construction funding from the City of Lethbridge, with the city continuing to contribute $30,000 dollars annually towards the operation of the Community Sports Stadium.

Highlights from the report include the following statistics.

In the last year:

• The Max Bell Regional Aquatic Centre was regularly used by a variety of community groups with 78,000 overall visits to the pool.

• The 1st Choice Savings Centre had 149,500 community pass holder visits (45 per cent of overall visitors) and 4,685 community members with a pass (47 per cent of the total).

• There were an additional 15,500 drop-in community users, and more than 11,000 registrants of all ages in the recreation programs.

• The Community Sports Stadium had over 200 hours of football bookings and over 100 hours of community track practice. In the future it will be hosting the Canada West Rugby Championships, the 2011 Canada Cup of Football and the 2010 Alberta Summer Games.

Pool renovation coming in 2011

trevor.kenney — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:53:09 +0000

The Max Bell Regional Aquatic Centre will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2011 with a $2.7 million renovation.

The facility, the largest of its kind in southern Alberta, will see a significant upgrade to the support systems that control air handling, water circulation and other equipment. To make the renovations and upgrades possible, the building will close for four months beginning in May 2011, and is expected to re-open in Sept. 2011.

While a closure is an inconvenience, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge officials say that the upgrades are necessary to ensure the building remains in top shape for the next 25 years.

"Our facility is used by thousands of people each year, including numerous regular user groups, and we host many local, regional and national-level aquatic events (15-20 per year, on average that draw upwards of 2,000 people)," says Deb Marek, the facilities and services manager for Sport and Recreation Services.

Marek adds that because many groups book events such as swim meets a year in advance, it is necessary to inform user groups about the renovation plan as soon as possible.

"We chose this late spring to late summer time period because many groups stop their programming over the summer, and the pool traditionally closes in August for routine maintenance," she says. "We are also giving people a year of lead time to ensure that the least amount of people and aquatic groups are affected, and to also make sure we could work with other aquatic facilities in the area to look after our pool users."

Recent meetings with other pool operators in the city have begun the process of making room for U of L pool users. The pool hosts more than 75,000 client visits per year.

"We have recently met with the City of Lethbridge and Recreation Excellence (the pool service provider for city pools)," says Marek. "They will do their best to accommodate user groups that are displaced from our facility by making their pools available for rentals and expanding hours if necessary."

In the end, all pool users will benefit from the upgrade.

"We expect that with this renovation, our aquatic facility will be a more comfortable place for people to visit, and will have the necessary equipment upgrades to ensure it is maintained at the high quality our users and the community expects," says Marek.

Updates about the project will be available on the U of L website and the Sport and Recreation Services website as it draws nearer to being started.

Scheduled power outage on Sunday

trevor.kenney — Fri, 28 May 2010 17:28:40 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has scheduled a power outage for the early hours of the morning on Sunday, May 30 to facilitate improvements at various construction projects throughout campus.

The outage is scheduled to take place from 5:30 to 7:30 a.m. and will directly affect the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness, Max Bell Regional Aquatic Centre and Turcotte Hall, where the power will be out in these facilities.

In addition, IT services, including telephone and computer, will be down throughout the day Sunday, beginning at approximately 3 a.m. and possibly lasting through 6 p.m. IT services may be restored sooner and people should feel free to try throughout the day after 11 a.m.

This power outage will take down the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's entire network. All of IT services will therefore not be working during this time. These services include desk phones, Internet, Banner, the Bridge, U of L website and e-mail.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Library will also be closed Sunday. It will be open regular hours Saturday, May 29, noon to 5 p.m., and reopen Monday at 8 a.m.

If you have any questions, contact the IT Solution Centre at 403-329-2490 or e-mail at help@uleth.ca

UNews - Max Bell Regional Aquatic Centre

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