Dear Editor,
Sixteen years ago, I renewed my love for swimming at our beloved Barrhead Pool. I was a competitive swimmer for seven years as a kid and returned to lane swimming when I was expecting my second child. One day after swimming my lengths, I stopped by to watch the Barrhead Swim Club practice. I have had the sincere privilege to volunteer as a coach each year ever since. Through the Barrhead Swim Club, I uncovered my talent for coaching swimmers and my love for children. Soon I was inspired to work as a program assistant, go get a teaching degree, and land a job as teacher at Fort Assiniboine School. The entire Fort School has also learned how to swim within the walls of our cherished pool.
My children learned to blow bubbles and took swimming lessons each year. When they were ready, they joined me at the Swim Club as competitive swimmers. I, along with many other dedicated volunteers, have coached hundreds of children at the Barrhead Pool to be great swimmers for life. Swimmers in the club have learned to give back to their community by volunteering to coach and help to teach lessons, and to become lifeguards. My son was hired at the pool as an attendant when he was 13 and has worked there until its sad and abrupt closure. The pool taught him responsibility and has helped to pay for his university education. My daughter was hoping to take her National Lifesaving to become a guard in July when she turns 16. They have both lost their employment opportunities but even more they have lost their sense of belonging, they have lost their pool.
I have taken many courses over the years to become a better coach and worked hard to make each Nordic Chill Swim Meet an amazing event to show off our pool, swimmers, and community. I have coached coaches and cheered for our local senior swimmers at the Seniors Games. I even coached a Masters team for a couple of years and shared my love of swimming with adults. When asked why I volunteer, my reply has always been that supporting the Barrhead Pool is how I give back to my community. The pool inspired me to be and do more than I ever thought possible in my life. I thank you Barrhead Pool for all the love you have given me, my family and my community.
This is just one of many pool stories that could be told by a plethora of individuals and families of all ages both in the Town and the County of Barrhead. Let’s work together so we can create more stories, in a new pool, as soon as possible.
Yours in Swimming,
Charlene Assenheimer
