BY PETE LAURIE/BLENHEIM NEWS TRIBUNE There was a celebration last Saturday at the Gable Rees Rotary Pool Complex. It was a celebration that many may well have thought would never happen and it was a celebration that took several years to finalize. However Saturday's celebration was one that brought together so many from not only the Blenheim Community but all of South Kent and all of Chatham-Kent. The celebration was that the Gable Rees Rotary Pool was now complete, the pool and wellness facility right here in Blenheim, our own community was officially finished and a grand opening was held to show what a grand facility it is. More than just the fact that the pool will continue to be a facility that houses so many unique programs but the fact that it can now be handicapped accessible, it is more user friendly and it has a wonderful new entrance with updated change room facilities that it so desperately needed in the past. As many in our community know, the local pool offers up a unique 25m, 5 lane pool and 8 person hot tub that are located under a covered enclosure. The Gable Rees Rotary Pool facility provides an excellent opportunity to enjoy year-round leisure and exercise opportunities. The facility provides swimming lessons for all ages as well as aquafit classes and therapeutic sessions for those who require the service. An open house with an official ribbon cutting was held last Saturday afternoon to afford the opportunity for local supporters and contributors, members of the community to see the final end result of years of planning, years of fundraising and to celebrate what is now a completed Gable Rees Rotary Pool. Ed O Brien who has been part of the vision, and also part of a dedicated group of committee members who realized many years ago that the Pool needed to be completed was the Master of Ceremonies on Saturday. O'Brien indicated that the facility first opened back in 1994. He added "looking around us we have come a long way from our early conversation". The Blenheim Pool or the way it is today was the vision of Lloyd Gable and Dr Howard Rees. O'Brien added "many years ago Lloyd Gable chased the idea of enclosing our Rotary Pool and Dr Howard Rees had a passion to give to the people of the Blenheim and surrounding community" "That's how it started" Although the pool has offered varying programs over the last several years a consultation process in the new millennium indicated that changes to the front lobby, to the change rooms and shower areas had to be done to make the facility more user friendly. Originally there were plans for varying phases to be completed to the pool but those plans were scrapped once Amalgamation came into being. A group of dedicated community members believed that they could turn the next phase of the project into reality. Karen Herman, who is the chair of the Gable Rees Rotary Pool Committee. The Gable Rees Rotary Pool Committee members are Councillor Karen Herman (Chairperson), Dr. Howard Rees (Honorary Member), Ed O'Brien, Elinor Mifflin, Noreen McLauchlin, Marilyn Delanghe, Bev VanDyken, Bruce Carroll, Jim Sanson, Josette DeBrouwer, and Nancy LeMar Herman added "I am so proud of the community support from both local businesses and residents, The community support of this project has addressed the need for an improved entrance, locker rooms, family changeroom, public washrooms, basement rental meeting space with kitchen, main floor boardroom space, cub/scouts meeting space. This is a building that will now accommodate the needs of those with accessible challenges. Donations of $250..00 and over have been added to the beautiful donor tree that now is finally displayed in the reception area of the new addition". Herman is also a councilor for South-Kent. She was one of three local councilors from South Kent who would later lobby the Municipality for support of the completion efforts. Art Stirling and Frank Vercouteren also showed their support. The Municipality would then lobby the provincial government who played a major role in paying $1.2 million towards the completion of the completed facility. O'Brien added " we also have to thank Art Stirling and Frank Vercouteren who offered their political support. Herman indicated that " this is a very generous community, members of the this community, businesses, service clubs have played a key role in assisting in the funding of this project" She added Total investment for the project came from Municipality of Chatham-Kent $100,000.00, Province of Ontario $100,00.00 (Infrastructure funds)+ $410,000.00 (OMPF)+ $600,00.00 (Municipal Infrastructure fund) And approximately $350,000 from the Gable Rees Rotary Pool Committees fund raising efforts. Herman also praised the efforts of Scott Mailing who was the buildings Project Manager. She added Scott should truly be commended for his dedication to this project, he did a Great job"! Pat Hoy who brought greetings from the Province was very pleased to be part of the days grand celebration. He added " I can't think of any better place to be in the winter time than right next to a swimming pool in Blenheim". Hoy congratulated the many local volunteers for their fundraising efforts and members of the Gable Rees Rotary Pool Committee for their efforts in realizing a need for improving this facility". Hoy also recognized the hard work of Mayor randy Hope and Council and all staff who helped put together some funding requests to the province". Hoy was pleased to acknowledged that through three different requests that were put forward to the province, our government was able to provide $1.2 million dollars for this facility". Randy Hope who was also at the grand opening mentioned that "right from the start I said "this project has got to get done, it was very worthwhile and a lot of people, not only those in Blenheim and South Kent but throughout Chatham-Kent use this facility" "I must say that today we have come up with a structure that is supported by all. He also praised the efforts of South Kent Councillors Herman, Stirling and Vercouteren saying" these three elected officials were very supportive, they asked how we could make this get done" Art Stirling called the opening and completion of the facility " a wonderful day for the community of Blenheim, a great day in knowing this project is completed" He spoke of his kids, his grandkids and what a great facility the Gable Rees Rotary Pool provides for the youth of the community. We want to keep our young people in the community, a facility such as this contributes to a mood into a sense, into a desire to enjoy the community. I believe it will also contribute to the economic development of not only our community but the region as well. I think we can take tremendous pride in the fact this facility will keep business in town" Verna Gable whose late husband Lloyd spent countless hours preparing a plan was a big part in the construction of the Phase 1 of the pool. She thanked everyone involved for the recognition of the efforts that Lloyd contributed. She added "let me assure you that we fully recognize that we realize that many other people have been involved and have worked tirelessly and deserve credit for their time and support". She added Dr Rees was the man that provided the means for the project, Lloyd various committee members along with the Blenheim Rotary Club were the ones who sparked the community of the possibilities of having a covered pool". Speaking to the many volunteers, dignitaries, sponsors and contributors she said " you truly brought a dream to reality, this community facility will be enjoyed by all generations for many generations to come". A ribbon cutting and open house and a free swim rounded out the days events.