After six months of renovations, the Canada Games Pool in Kamloops will be back open to the general public within a couple weeks.

The city says the pool will reopen on Saturday for swimming lessons and for competitive swim clubs to use, and will be fully reopened on Jan. 15. Because of COVID-19 protocols, public swimming will be limited to 50 people and users will have to register online in advance.

The pool had been closed since late June to replace most of the building’s envelope as well as its mechanical, electrical and heating systems.

The hot tub, sauna and steamroom and changerooms have also been replaced, and a new spray park has been built as well.

The renovations cost $13.49 million dollars, and came in on time and on budget despite concerns from COVID-19. A government grant worth $2.5 million also helped pay for the renovations.

As of Saturday, the Tournament Capital Centre hours will be expanded, from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends.

The Westsyde Pool will also be returning to normal hours, being open from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. from Monday to Friday and from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekends.