The City of Kamloops is getting $12,300 from the Rick Hansen Foundation to install a new portable aquatic lift at the Westsyde Pool.

It’ll replace the current lift at the pool which is showing its age.

Community Development Coordinator Ben Chobater says the grant funding will cover the total project cost.

“The previous aquatic lift was built into the deck so it was only located in one spot and it couldn’t be moved,” he said. “Whereas with this new one, we can move the aquatic lift from the hot tub over to the pool and back to the hot tub, which allows people to access both pool and hot tub as they require.”

Chobater adds they are also going to apply for a similar grant for upgrades at the Canada Games Pool in the near future.

“When the time comes for us to submit it, we’re thinking about that,” he noted. “There might be other ideas as well.”

“The lift at the Canada Games Pool does need replacing as well so we’ll see when the time comes when we put another grant application for it.”

He noted that pools are some of the best used facilities in Kamloops, so replacing the aquatic lift was a “no-brainer”.