To the Editor:
In the heady days of the seventh decade of the 20th century, our Olympic class aquatic facility was built to attract the Manitoba summer games. Even though the bid was given to Brandon, we now were the proud owners of a state-of-the-art recreation facility. Much has changed, although smaller communities such as The Pas still have a pool.
In the new millennium, a downturn in our economic mainstay (nickel mining) cast an ominous pall over the city of Thompson. Unknown to most taxpayers, the maintenance as well as upgrades to the Norplex Pool were not a priority and it fell into a state of disrepair.
Historically, our industrial base has provided an excellent source of income and hundreds of millions in revenue to service industries in Winnipeg and Alberta. Like the tentacles of an octopus, the highways of Manitoba and the rail lines have fed minerals to smelters in Sudbury and even nickel to Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta.
Yet, with a lull in our primary industry comes years of neglect and a lack of upgrades to the Norplex facility.
Public concern has echoed at meetings of council; committees were struck to study prospects for the pool. And now what?
Could somebody step up to the plate and get on with the task of kickstarting the Norplex? Our Norplex.
Angus Campbell Sr.
Thompson
