Lionel E. Lalonde Centre Therapeutic/Leisure Pool

In November 2013, a consulting team led by Monteith Brown Planning Consultants was retained by the City of Greater Sudbury to prepare a Therapeutic Pool Feasibility Study to identify the potential need for the development of an indoor aquatic facility at the Lionel E. Lalonde Centre in Azilda. The feasibility study explored two types of facilities:

  • Stand-alone therapy pool
  • Multi-use pool (combination of therapy pool and leisure pool)

The January 2014 Therapeutic Pool Feasibility Study recommended a multi-use pool, which would accommodate activities of a stand-alone therapeutic pool as well as swimming lessons and leisure swimming. In June 2014, City Council approved the Parks, Open Space and Leisure Master Plan review, which recommended the provision of a therapeutic/leisure pool at the Lionel E. Lalonde Centre.

The estimated project value is $4.7 million. In April 2019, the City received a $1 million grant from the Government of Canada’s Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) for the project. During 2021 budget deliberations, a business case to construct the Therapeutic/Leisure Pool was approved. In June 2021, a Request for Proposal for architectural services was awarded to Architects Tillmann Ruth Robinson.

About the Therapeutic/Leisure Pool

The aquatic facility will be approximately 7,400 square feet, including pool tank, deck space, change room, studio, control desk, storage and mechanical space.

The pool will offer amenities in Greater Sudbury that are not currently available. It will improve healthy living by creating opportunities to help keep our residents, especially our seniors, more active in a safe and accessible environment.

The low-impact benefits of water rehabilitation will offer citizens of all ages the opportunity to feel better and heal more quickly.

Some Benefits of Pool Therapy

  • Improves joint flexibility: Buoyancy offers an advantage because it reduces the effects of gravity allowing for increased joint range of motion.
  • Improves muscle strength: Water is 600-700 times more resistive than air which allows for strengthening of weakened muscles. Water resists rapid movement, so equipment with increased surface area is used to increase strength in the pool.
  • Decreases pain: Immersion in warm water increases an individual’s comfort by increasing blood supply to sore muscles and promoting relaxation.
  • Improves balance: The uniform pressure of the water along with buoyancy provides support to your body which allows you increased time to react without the fear of falling or getting hurt.

Update – April 19 2023

At the February 21, 2023, City Council meeting, Council passed the following resolution:

WHEREAS Council endorsed the Therapeutic/Leisure Pool as a priority, a Feasibility Study has been prepared and architectural services to complete the schematic design phase have commenced;

AND WHEREAS the project has received seed capital funding in the amount of $656,000, community fundraising efforts to date in the amount of $100,500, and a $1,000,000 commitment towards the project through a successful application to the Government of Canada’s Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) for midsized projects;

AND WHEREAS the balance of capital funding required for the project in the amount of $4,199,500 was approved through the 2021 budget process;

AND WHEREAS Council directed staff to begin a comprehensive aquatics review that would rationalize and modernize aquatic recreation facilities in Greater Sudbury;

AND WHEREAS the Therapeutic/Leisure Pool forms part of the review process for the Comprehensive Aquatics Strategy;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of Greater Sudbury directs staff to pause further work on the Therapeutic/Leisure Pool until the comprehensive aquatics review has been presented to Council.


The Approach to a Comprehensive Aquatics Review report is available here:
https://pub-greatersudbury.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=fa0c24e0-d25f-451a-8ffa-2fec27825c2a&lang=English&Agenda=Agenda&Item=45&Tab=attachments

In November 2013, a consulting team led by Monteith Brown Planning Consultants was retained by the City of Greater Sudbury to prepare a Therapeutic Pool Feasibility Study to identify the potential need for the development of an indoor aquatic facility at the Lionel E. Lalonde Centre in Azilda. The feasibility study explored two types of facilities:

  • Stand-alone therapy pool
  • Multi-use pool (combination of therapy pool and leisure pool)

The January 2014 Therapeutic Pool Feasibility Study recommended a multi-use pool, which would accommodate activities of a stand-alone therapeutic pool as well as swimming lessons and leisure swimming. In June 2014, City Council approved the Parks, Open Space and Leisure Master Plan review, which recommended the provision of a therapeutic/leisure pool at the Lionel E. Lalonde Centre.

The estimated project value is $4.7 million. In April 2019, the City received a $1 million grant from the Government of Canada’s Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) for the project. During 2021 budget deliberations, a business case to construct the Therapeutic/Leisure Pool was approved. In June 2021, a Request for Proposal for architectural services was awarded to Architects Tillmann Ruth Robinson.

About the Therapeutic/Leisure Pool

The aquatic facility will be approximately 7,400 square feet, including pool tank, deck space, change room, studio, control desk, storage and mechanical space.

The pool will offer amenities in Greater Sudbury that are not currently available. It will improve healthy living by creating opportunities to help keep our residents, especially our seniors, more active in a safe and accessible environment.

The low-impact benefits of water rehabilitation will offer citizens of all ages the opportunity to feel better and heal more quickly.

Some Benefits of Pool Therapy

  • Improves joint flexibility: Buoyancy offers an advantage because it reduces the effects of gravity allowing for increased joint range of motion.
  • Improves muscle strength: Water is 600-700 times more resistive than air which allows for strengthening of weakened muscles. Water resists rapid movement, so equipment with increased surface area is used to increase strength in the pool.
  • Decreases pain: Immersion in warm water increases an individual’s comfort by increasing blood supply to sore muscles and promoting relaxation.
  • Improves balance: The uniform pressure of the water along with buoyancy provides support to your body which allows you increased time to react without the fear of falling or getting hurt.

Update – April 19 2023

At the February 21, 2023, City Council meeting, Council passed the following resolution:

WHEREAS Council endorsed the Therapeutic/Leisure Pool as a priority, a Feasibility Study has been prepared and architectural services to complete the schematic design phase have commenced;

AND WHEREAS the project has received seed capital funding in the amount of $656,000, community fundraising efforts to date in the amount of $100,500, and a $1,000,000 commitment towards the project through a successful application to the Government of Canada’s Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) for midsized projects;

AND WHEREAS the balance of capital funding required for the project in the amount of $4,199,500 was approved through the 2021 budget process;

AND WHEREAS Council directed staff to begin a comprehensive aquatics review that would rationalize and modernize aquatic recreation facilities in Greater Sudbury;

AND WHEREAS the Therapeutic/Leisure Pool forms part of the review process for the Comprehensive Aquatics Strategy;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of Greater Sudbury directs staff to pause further work on the Therapeutic/Leisure Pool until the comprehensive aquatics review has been presented to Council.


The Approach to a Comprehensive Aquatics Review report is available here:
https://pub-greatersudbury.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=fa0c24e0-d25f-451a-8ffa-2fec27825c2a&lang=English&Agenda=Agenda&Item=45&Tab=attachments

Page last updated: 25 Jul 2023, 02:44 PM