Ravensong Aquatic Centre Expansion Referendum

If you're not on the voters list, you can register at the time of voting by completing an application form. You will be asked to provide two pieces of identification that prove who you are and where you live. One of them must have your signature on it. For a list of accepted identification please see our Resident Electors FAQ sheet(External link) or visit rdn.bc.ca/Ravensong-Referendum(External link). There are additional requirements to register as a Non-Resident Property Elector, please see our Non-Resident Property Elector FAQ sheet(External link). 

If you are already on the voters list, identification is not required.

To find out if you are on the voters list, please call 250-390-4111.

The B.C. Guidelines for Pool Operations are regulations set by the BC Health Department and dictate the standards for pool water temperatures in public swimming pools. The regulation requires that the temperature of the pool water must not exceed 37 degrees Celsius, except for a hot tub, which must not exceed 40 degrees Celsius. The regulation also states that the maximum allowable temperature for pools protects the public from heat stroke or other potential heat/exertion risks, especially in activities of higher exertion such as length swimming and aquafit. Ravensong Aquatic Centre is a community pool and not a competitive pool by nature and is also not used solely for competitive swimming. 

The pool is utilized by several different user categories such as public swimming, length swimming, physiotherapy, swimming lessons and aquafit. To balance comfort with the provision of safety, the Ravensong Aquatic Centre current main pool temperature is maintained at 29 degrees Celsius. If the referendum passes and the facility expansion proceeds, there will be further discussion and designs regarding the pool temperatures which will be based on programming needs, mechanical efficiencies, patron comfort and safety. There would be the ability to have different pool temperatures set for the newer pool addition than the current pool tank. However, there will be consideration of the programming planned for the pool to ensure that we maintain a safe environment for all users. 

If you are looking specifically for a warmer body of water while at the Ravensong Aquatic Centre, please consider using the leisure pool at the facility which is maintained at 34.5 degrees Celsius.    

1) The QB avg tax increase quoted in open meetings was $122 per home, or some 2.5 % of. The QB Town Council presentation gave that value rising to $310 by 2029. Even allowing for significant tax increases for other town priorities by that time, the Ravensong expansion will rise to 5% of our tax bill. Why was this not in the information sessions ? 

Correct, the annual impact per average household in the Town of Qualicum Beach, based on the 2025 BC Housing Assessment, is estimated at $122.36. Further, the following table was developed for the information sessions to represent the projected tax requisition for each participating service area which also includes the annual operating costs for the proposed facility expansion: 

2) The second issue is of interest to we “climate change” geeks! Current facility emissions are about 350 tonnes CO2E per year, some 2% of our QB RCI. I consult in this area and think claims of a 94% reduction may not stack up to scrutiny. The new facility power draw of some 1.8 million kWh per year translates to about 80 tonnes per year of CO2E emission not the 10 claimed. For those who might point to the use of solar panels (a sensible use of new technology) not much help there. The average life-cycle emission profile of solar panels globally is higher than the BC grid power. And if your panels are made in China, largely by coal-power…connect the dots..

The project uses annual, industry-standard, integrated BC electricity grid emission factors to calculate the emissions from the Ravensong Expansion’s expected electricity use. We use the integrated grid emission factor because the facility will be connected to the integrated grid. These emission factors are available here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/climate-change/industry/reporting/quantify/electricity(External link). The emission factor values range from 9.7 to 11.5 grams of carbon per kWh of electricity (or 9.7 to 11.5 tonnes of carbon per GWh electricity). The facility will use 1.8 million kWh per year (or 1.8 GWh). Multiplying the emission factor times the electricity use indicates the facility emissions will be between 17.46 tCO2e/yr and 20.7 tCO2e/yr. Even using the lifecycle grid emission factor of 14g carbon/kWh gives a maximum of 25 tCO2e/yr. A 94% reduction from 350 tCO2e/yr is ~20 tCO2e/yr, consistent with the amounts indicated in the presentation to Oceanside Services Committee and shared with the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) Board (presentation is available here: https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/45563/widgets/191384/documents/141322. The project has never claimed to reduce emissions to 10 tCO2e/year.

3) On the same GHG impact, the total cost of the energy upgrades will be some $5.5 million financed over 20 years. Without going over all the details it works out to ~$1,500 per tonne of CO2E abated. Quebec and California base their carbon reduction plans on emission trading and Elon Musk (OK, I don’t like him either!) sits on mountains of saleable credits at about $120-150 per tonne or 1/10th of that part of the proposed expansion costs. This is also about the same cost of sequestration. Maybe I'm missing something? Your comments appreciated.

Yes, the cost per tCO2e abatement is high for the last emission reductions on the project, it is consistent with ‘going the last mile’ and in this case includes not only reductions for embodied emissions that would not be captured in the abatement cost calculation, but also the measures required to comply with the Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC) Zero Carbon building standard, maintaining eligibility for the Federal Green and Inclusive Community Buildings funding stream of which the RDN recently received a $7 million funding contribution from the federal government for the proposed expansion project. Emission reduction measures on the project also bring value that goes beyond basic abatement cost calculations, including local electricity generation potential, improved energy efficiency, technology demonstration and use of low impact building materials. 

While some systems and finishes will require updates or replacement over the next 20 years, the anticipated lifespan of the proposed new facility upgrade is 40 years or more before any major renovations or significant replacements would be needed. 

Correct, the Town of Qualicum Beach does pay for the pool along with the other service participants RDN Electoral Areas E, F, G, H, and the City of Parksville. The costs of the services are based on the percentage of usage of the service as determined by a survey of usage carried out by the RDN every five years.

If the referendum to borrow up to $30 million for the expansion of Ravensong Aquatic Centre is approved, there would be additional costs. 

The table located in our Frequently Asked Questions outlines the proposed tax requisitions from the 2025-2029 Financial Plan broken down by participating service area. These amounts include estimates for an expanded facility including pool admissions and rentals, staffing, programming, maintenance, and operations. However, these estimates will be further refined in subsequent budgets should the expansion project proceed. For example, the potential reductions from the Net Zero energy design are not incorporated in the Financial Plan as well as the recently announced funding contribution from the Government of Canada. 

The table includes the operations of the building as it is, considerations for operation of an expanded building and the estimated borrowing costs based on $30 million long term borrowing. Should the project not proceed, revenues and expenditures related to an expanded facility will be removed from the 2026-2030 Financial Plan for the RDN Board’s review and consideration to reflect operating the facility in its current form.

Thank you for your suggestion. If the referendum passes and the expansion proceeds, there will be detail design process where this can be considered.

If you're not on the voters list, you can register at the time of voting by completing an application form. You will be asked to provide two pieces of identification that prove who you are and where you live. One of them must have your signature on it. For a list of accepted identification please see our Resident Electors FAQ sheet(External link) or visit rdn.bc.ca/Ravensong-Referendum(External link). There are additional requirements to register as a Non-Resident Property Elector, please see our Non-Resident Property Elector FAQ sheet(External link). 

If you are already on the voters list, identification is not required.

To find out if you are on the voters list, please call 250-390-4111.

Due to the initial design expansion stage and the costs associated with providing renderings, there are currently no renderings supplied for the changeroom facilities, however there is detailed information on the changeroom measurements included in the September 23, 2024 Presentation(External link). The Universal Changeroom area is 300.64 metres squared, the Men’s Changeroom area is 55.7 metres squared, and the Women’s Changeroom is 62.8 metres squared. The changeroom design follows the BC Building Code but is also in line with the 2021 B.C. Guidelines for Pool Design Section 5.1 BC Guidelines for Pool Design(External link) and the 2020 B.C. Building Accessibility Handbook (see A-1.4.1.2(1) Defined Terms) Building Accessibility Handbook 2020(External link) .

To clarify, the use of the language “Family” is an outdated term and we are endeavoring to update this wherever we can. The updated and more widely used term is “Universal”. The intention of the proposed increased universal space is to allow more accessible and flexible options for all users, it will not be limited to families. The 16 universal changeroom stalls offer a slightly larger private space than the stalls in the gendered changerooms. This added space can be for people who may use mobility aids such as a walker or wheelchair, parents needing more space with their children, or for people who just require a bit more privacy of space. The traditional gendered changerooms will still be available for anyone who feels more comfortable in this space. 

Thank you for expressing your concern. Regarding your question about the addition of the fitness centre, as noted the Board opted to proceed with the project in its current form, which does not include a fitness center but included the ability to construct one when adequate funding is in place to do so. 

At this point in time, the project budget has been set and the referendum underway is based on this budget. Reconsideration to include the fitness facility is not possible, as additional funding would need to be secured through borrowing for the fitness centre to be added.

The RDN is currently monitoring the effects that potential tariffs may have on current and planned capital projects. As part of implementing capital projects, cost estimates are reviewed and updated prior to tender. Should overages occur, the RDN Board receives a report for any large-scale capital project that requires funding beyond the budget in the approved five year Financial Plan. After reviewing the report, the Board then determines the next steps.