Thank you for your support to date!
Tonight, I presented the petition to Council. Here is what I said:
Thank you for the opportunity to present this petition on behalf of the residents of Victoria and the users of Crystal Pool.
Hi, My name is Karmen.
A few days ago, I was at the pool.
It was a typical morning.
I saw River, using her walker to cross the deck.
River is a senior and has a spinal cord injury. Swimming is one of the few forms of exercise she can do. And exercise is the best thing to keep her symptoms at bay. So, every morning, I watch her - back and forth, the weightlessness of the water toning her muscles and improving her quality of life.
River comes up to me and asks if there’s any news on the pool.
“If it closes, I will have nowhere to go,” she tells me. “My wellness will disappear, evaporate and vanish without it. I cannot physically get to another location.”
On the other side of the pool is my friend Sarah. She’s a single mother. She gets a small window of free time each week to meet with other parents.
The baby has been up all night and today Sarah is really looking forward to meeting with some other parents for advice and encouragement.
From across the deck I overhear her say: “I hope the heater isn’t broken today. Last time it was too cold for the baby and we had to go home. in the time it's taken to make a decision, the pool is becoming less and less usable .”
Evening rolls around, and members of the The Special Olympic Swim Team assemble in the lobby. My friend Kieron is among them. Swim practice on Thursday is when he gets to see his friends. It’s also the only time that his body can relax - he has spastic cerebral palsy, and floating in the water allows his muscles to release in a way that they can’t in his chair or bed.
Kieron asks when the new pool will be built so that he can use the front door and a normal changeroom like everyone else.
I shake my head and tell him I don’t know.
I could tell you about the ladies in aquasize, I can tell you about parents who use childminding, I can tell about homeless people - there are so many stories of people whose lives are improved by Crystal Pool.
And these people would be devastated by its loss.
My name is Karmen McNamara.
I believe that creating an affordable, inclusive and thriving city is about taking bold action.
I am submitting to you a petition with nearly 900 signatures.
What we’re asking is that you stop talking about building a new recreation centre, and put the original plan into action.
Thank you for your time this evening.