Michigan Soo politicians love our plan to get everyone swimming in the river

Proposals to revitalize the Ontario side of the St. Marys River got rave reviews Monday night at a meeting of Ontario and Michigan municipal politicians.

The annual joint meeting of the Ontario Sault's city council and Michigan Sault's city commission heard updates on numerous initiatives including the Port of Algoma, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Soo Locks rebuild and the new president at Lake Superior State University.

But much of the discussion focused on a scheme developed in the Ontario Sault to build floating swimming pools in the river.

"We're looking at incorporating in the design, a standalone swimming pool in the river, built off some concepts from Copenhagen," said Travis Anderson, the Ontario Sault's director of tourism and community development.

"That would be a flagship feature for this area," Anderson said.

"Essentially, it's like a fully contained pool that's pushed directly out into the river so the water is treated. So it's fully contained, treated water that allows you to immerse yourself in the river without truly immersing yourself in the river.

"The one in Copenhagen, they also had the ability to heat it so you had a hot tub in the winter as well as an ability to freeze a portion of it.

"A hockey rink and a hot tub, I think that would be spectacular," Anderson said.

"The thing that really intrigued me was the river pool.... It just it sounds awesome," said Jay Gage, a Michigan Soo city commissioner.

"I am excited about the pool, too. That's a really unique thing," added Commissioner Jodi Bosbous-Rath.