Too little steam, too much spit

The Mission Leisure Centre’s sauna and steam room aren’t hot enough, and it’s creating problems for both users and the facility’s staff.

The leisure centre’s sauna and steam room have both been taken out of service after reported incidents of vandalism. But users aren’t necessarily trying to damage the equipment. Instead, they are trying to turn up the heat.

According to staff, users have placed water on the sauna element, and planted ice on the steam room sensor. Users have also apparently spat on both devices. As a result, both rooms have been closed for cleaning and repairs.

The behaviour, gross or damaging as it may be, seems linked to attempts to make both rooms hot, rather than warm.

Although the sauna received a new heater last year, it failed (after its warranty expired). The steam room, meanwhile, had its generator replaced three years ago, but parks and facilities manager Jason Horton told council last week that the temperature in the room was lower than it should be.

Staff wrote in a report that they are monitoring and assessing the temperatures of both rooms

Horton said staff would specifically investigate the steam room issue that week, although he cautioned that officials also have to ensure that rooms are safe for children to use.

Both rooms are slated for renovations in 2025, including refreshed boards and tiling.

Mission Coun. Mark Davies suggested improved signage could lessen the frustration among users confronted with unsatisfactory conditions. He pointed to the plan to replace the facility’s lockers.

“There clearly is some confusion out there that the lockers aren’t being fixed, because we have actually approved the lockers to be fixed, it’s just nobody knows about it.”

Davies suggested simple signs notifying users of the upcoming plans could save everyone heartache.

Coun. Danny Plecas asked if the city needed to consider completely rebuilding the facility’s sauna and steam rooms so their mechanical components performed better and failed less often.

Horton said that’s not necessary. The devices heating both rooms are new. The challenge is that fixing the devices can be a laborious process, with the changing of a simple element requiring full-scale disassembly of the sauna heater by a contractor.

Horton said the issues in the steam room can be resolved once staff figure out a temperature that is safe for kids, but hot enough for adults.

The two rooms-for-roasting aren’t the only leisure city amenities to sit dormant for prolonged periods over the last year.

The leisure centre’s waterslide has had more challenges than you might expect from a tube that simply carries water down a slope.

The slide has been closed to the public at various times, most recently when a control panel used to regulate the water supply failed and required a customized replacement. (Staff found a work-around solution to operate the slide while repairs were made.)

The waterslide has also been the site of what staff, in a report to council, described as “air quality issues” which made the inside of the slide too hot during heat waves.

According to the report, the city’s health and safety advisor is considering how the slide will be able to stay open during hot weather. The city also hopes that replacing air-handling machines in the leisure centre will mitigate future problems.

Although Mission’s leisure centre dates back to the 1970s—when an arena, community centre, and pool were first built on the site—much of the building is newer. The facility was expanded in 2005 with the addition of a second ice sheet, fitness centre, gymnasium, and new pool and waterslide