Doctors petitioning city to save aquatic programs in Fredericton

With the closure of UNB's Sir Max Aitken pool just months away, a group of doctors is petitioning the City of Fredericton to find a way to maintain aquatic programs in the city for the sake of their patients.

The petition, which is expected to be presented next week,was started byDr. Jillian Goodyear, a family doctor in Fredericton.

It's been signed by103 physicians who, according to the petition, feel the maintenance of current aquatic facilities and programs in the community "is vitally important to the health of our families and patients."

'Issue crosses all ages and abilities'

Doctors often recommend aquatic activity for rehabilitation of injuries, orfor people with joint issues, or who are advanced in age because they can't easily participate in other activities, shesaid.

"This is definitely an issue that crosses all ages and abilities, and it is really important for the health maintenance of citizens here in Fredericton," Goodyearsaid.

At the beginning of March, Fredericton Mayor Mike O'Brien announced that the city will not work with the university to keep the poolopen.

O'Brien declined to comment on the petition Saturday as he hasn't had a chance to read it yet.

But in March, he did say the city will try to accommodate as many swimmers as possible at the Fredericton Indoor Pool, a non-competitive swimming pool on the north side.

Not enough space

However, Goodyear said she and her colleagues are worried the north side pool won't be able to meet all their patients' needs.

"We know that's just going to snowball. We won't be able to grow programs for rehabilitation, so we'll send people to the pool, but they'll have less access," she said.

The plan is to send the petition to the mayor as well as other levels of government and local stakeholders that have been involved in efforts to keep the Sir MaxAitkenpool open.

The purpose of the petition is simply to advocate for maintaining aquatics in the city, not for any one solution to the problem, she said.

"The purpose wasn't to put the blame in any particular direction, it's really just, here's another sign that this is a really important issue in our community," she said.

"We don't think it just hasto end here, we think the stakeholders should come together again and figure out a way to get this done."