A fundraising closeout report presented to Council on March 23rd (2026) announced that the Town of Saugeen Shores has exceeded its $3 million goal for the Pryde Aquatic and Wellness Centre (AWC) fundraising campaign, raising a total of $3,135,991 over the past two and a half years.
Kristan Shrider, Directory of Community Services, said that the fundraising team of Rob Stanley and Allison Taylor-Misener kept the goal in their sites “… never losing focus or their connection with the community and the donors”. Shrider pointed out that last September, the goal was short by $500,000. “I wasn’t sure if we should make it but the ‘turn and burn’ that Rob and Alli did was a pleasure to be part of and to see. I have a great deal of respect for them, not because they exceeded the target but because they believed in the project, believed in providing our community with this facility and they created opportunities for our community to be part of. They’ve created a legacy for our community to be proud of.”
Stanley, who joined the fundraising team in 2023, said that, “It’s the generosity of the people and organizations of the people and organizations that make up Saugeen Shores. Corporate donors, service clubs, local businesses, labour unions and individual residents stepped forward with unwavering support.”He added that, “This community has now demonstrated this level of support twice in the past four years. When combined with Lamont Sports Park fundraising effort, approximately five million dollars has been donated to offset the costs of these two major recreation and community hubs. That level of commitment speaks volumes about the character of this community and its belief in healthy and active living. I also want to thank this and previous Councils for your vision, leadership and commitment to delivering on the 2016 Recreation Master Plan that identified the need for a multi-diamond sports complex and aquatic and wellness centre. They are no longer concepts on paper … they are real and vibrant … they are facilities that would stand out anywhere in southwestern Ontario. They are places where people gather, where youth develop skills and confidence, where families connect and where wellness is made accessible to everyone. Being part of these projects has deepened my respect for this community and strengthened my pride in calling Saugeen Shores home. This is a community that shows up, that invests in its future and believes in creating opportunities for all.”
Allison Taylor-Misener, Fundraising Lead, added, “When I stepped into the role 20 months ago, it was with hope, determination and a belief that together we could build something truly meaningful. What I didn’t fully expect was how this would deeply affect me both professionally and personally. From the beginning this campaign needed momentum, connection and renewed spark, so I gave it everything I had – every ounce of energy, every idea, every conversation and every late night thinking about how to move us forward. What happened next was nothing short of inspiring.”
“Our community responded. Our donors believed. Together, we built more than a fundraising campaign,” she added. “We built a legacy. In 2025, Rob and I introduced the ‘Drive for Five’… it became the spark that ignited the final surge, the rallying cry that brought everyone together and, ultimately, was the final effort that pushed us past the finish line. None of this would have been possible without the people who placed their trust in us, our donors, for believing in this project, for your generosity and hopes for this community.”
To listen to the entire presentation by Stanley and Taylor-Misner … CLICK HERE>
“I never had any doubt that we would exceed the fundraising target for the Pryde Aquatic and Wellness Centre. The success of the campaign reflects strong community support for a shared vision of health, wellness, and recreation in Saugeen Shores,” said Mayor Charbonneau. “Thank you to the many donors, sponsors, businesses, community groups, and residents whose generosity helped make this milestone possible. As you said, it’s an indication of the generosity of our community and an indication of the calibre of the people we had leading the campaign.”
The campaign included both ‘Quiet Ask’ and Public Fundraising with support opportunities ranging from major donations and naming rights to Commemorative Brick purchases. The Centre itself is named in honour of Brad and Kathy Pryde, whose leadership gift of one million dollars launched the fundraising campaign and set the tone for community support.
The eight‑lane competition pool is named in honour of major donor Bruce Power.
All donors are recognized on the Pryde Aquatic and Wellness Centre donor wall, located at the south entrance of the facility. Recognition levels include Great Lakes of Giving ($500K to $1M), Waves of Gratitude ($100K to $499.9K), Currents of Compassion ($25K to $99.9K), and Ripples of Kindness ($5K to $24.9K).
Approved by Council in December 2022, the Pryde Aquatic and Wellness Centre capital build is being funded through the Town’s Legacy Fund and Development Charges. While construction was fully funded, the fundraising campaign helped support this significant financial expenditure.
Councillor Bud Halpin suggested that donations be kept open for 2026 and possibly into 2027.
“We will never say no to donations,” said Shrider, “for either Lamont Sports Park or the Pryde Aquatic and Wellness Centre. People can reach out to the Town or me at any time.”
Councillor Cheryl Grace said that many people had commented not only on the facility but “… also on the superb level of customer service. I get many comments about that. The level of excitement for only being open a couple of months, is wonderful.”
According to Shrider, it will take approximately 2500 memberships to cover operational costs for the year and, after two months of being open, memberships stand at approximately 1500. “The numbers are looking very positive,” she said.
Deputy Mayor Diane Huber also pointed out that there is a summer program for youth. “The summer programming is pretty phenomenal and is a nice addition to the mix … and the summer camps are nicely priced.”
The Pryde Aquatic and Wellness Centre is a regional hub for recreation and wellness, offering an eight-lane competition pool, leisure pool, fitness centre, walking track, gymnasium, and multi-purpose program rooms that serve people of all ages and abilities.
Pryde AWC Operations and Management is highlighted as a Major Initiative in the Town of Saugeen Shores 2026 Business Plan (pg. 24), with construction of the facility included in the 2024 and 2025 Business Plans.
