For nearly two decades, the Prince Edward Fitness and Aquatic Centre (PEFAC) has been a cornerstone of community life. It’s a place where thousands of residents have learned to swim, trained for their first triathlon, recovered from injury, and found friendship and belonging. From physical activity to mental well-being, PEFAC has quietly become one of the County’s most important health resources. Today, however, its future hangs in the balance.

As of late August, the Board of Directors was formally notified by the building’s owners that they intend to sell the property as part of an estate settlement. The Lesters have been extraordinary stewards of this facility. They created it in 1986/87in honour of their son, Bobby, who sadly passed away from cancer. They operated it as the RECPLEX until 2005, a place County residents could gather, grow, and stay healthy.

Their generosity and commitment cannot be overstated. But with the passing of the elder generation, the family now faces estate-settlement realities that require the sale of the building and land.

The Board understands and respects this position. At the same time, these decisions place PEFAC and the community that depends on it in a precarious and increasingly urgent situation. We now face not only the potential sale of our facility, but a significant rent increase scheduled for February 2026. Without intervention, that increase could have serious consequences for our ability to keep the doors open.

This facility is the county’s only public pool and its largest gym. More than 1,300 members use it regularly — a three percent increase over last year. PEFAC is vital to local health, safety, and mental well-being. Residents of all ages take part in programs like swim lessons, Aqua Fit, and Swim to Survive, offered to all grade 3 students across the County. These programs offer essential skills in a region surrounded by water and defined by lakeshores. The Centre also hosts the Kids of Steel Triathlon, while the County School of Dance and County Dolphins swim team call PEFAC home.

We’re open year-round, operating over 4,600 hours annually. Last year, over 3,400 individuals visited for physical, social, and mental well-being to maintain health, rebuild strength, connect with others, and simply have fun. In fact, PEFAC has never been stronger. Membership and participation are at record highs. Daily programs are full. The facility is well-managed, well-loved, and financially efficient.

The County’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan notes that PEFAC provides exceptional value: the municipality’s $70,000 annual contribution represents less than one-tenth of what it would cost the County to operate a comparable municipal pool. Building a new pool could cost anywhere between $15 and $25 million.

PEFAC is more than a building, it’s a lifeline for health, wellness, and connection. It’s where older adults build strength and prevent isolation; where children learn safety and confidence in the water; where people recovering from illness regain mobility; and where neighbours come to feel part of something bigger than themselves.

But now we need your help. We’re calling on our community to stand with us: together, we can secure PEFAC’s future. We are asking Council to  declare PEFAC a Project of Community Interest to allow charitable tax receipts and unlock new funding opportunities. We also ask that Council increase the County’s annual financial contribution to PEFAC.

Members and residents: please share what this facility means to you, with your councillors, in the local press, and with your neighbours. PEFAC is not just a gym or pool. It’s a shared community asset that touches every part of The County.

Donors and partners: we will soon be launching a fundraising campaign. Your generosity will bring us closer to community ownership and ensure that PEFAC continues to serve this county into the future.

Two decades ago, a few determined citizens came together at a critical time and refused to let PEFAC disappear. They formed the not-for-profit that exists today, and through countless volunteer hours and the support of this community, transformed it. 

We have done it before. We can do it again. The campaign to save PEFAC begins today. Let’s secure our future —together.