The city is preparing to open its new $70 million Aquatic Centre this coming Monday.

Residents stepping into the centre will find the following:

• A therapy pool heated to 40 C, according to the city;
   
• A 25-metre, eight-lane pool heated to 27 C. It also features both one-metre and three-metre diving boards;
   
• A 25-metre, three-lane lap pool with basketball nets and;
   
• A lazy river heated to 32 C, also according to the city.

Johanna Elliot, the city's facilities manager, and Grant White, the city's director of community services, said the centre allows a maximum of around 600 people. Asked how many people they expect to see on opening day, both said it's hard to predict.

The centre will have a total of 10 lifeguard instructors and about 30 part-time or casual lifeguards, White said, with a required ratio of one lifeguard per 35 people. 

All lifeguards who worked at the Ruth Inch Memorial Pool are coming over to the centre, said Elliot, adding that the centre will also have a maintenance supervisor and seven maintainers.

The centre also features a number of accessibility options, ranging from benches for sitting while changing to ramps at every pool. There is also a sling to assist people with mobility issues, as well as wheelchairs, automatic doors, and universal change rooms and washrooms.

The centre is open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Sunday hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.