The Westacres Pool serves as a monument to the spirit of those who made it an Applewood Acres institution, namely the members of The Lions Club of Dixie- Mississauga and to the untiring efforts of area resident and Lions Club member Don McLean.
Don, who passed away in April 1997 at the age of 76, was one of the original Applewood Acres residents. He was instrumental in spearheading the drive to fulfill the hopes of the community in having the pool designed and constructed.
Don was born in Punnichy, Saskatchewan. Here he received his early education. Following university, Don enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force where he worked in Transport Command.
He met his future wife while posted in North Bay, Ontario and in 1949 married and settled in Vancouver, British Columbia. Marie was a nurse, having graduated from nursing school in 1942. Their first two children, William and Lawrence were born in Vancouver, while daughter Sue and son Don were born in Applewood Acres shortly after the McLeans moved here in June 1953.
By this time Don had left the service and was well established in a career with Air Canada. He started as a pilot and rose to the position of Captain.
It was in Applewood where Don became active with the Dixie Lions and, as Chairman of the Club’s fund raising committee, Don and the Club were looking for a community project to sponsor and quickly came up with the idea of having a public pool in Westacres Park.
Don approached Robert Speck, the Reeve of Toronto Township, now The City of Mississauga. The Lions Club plan was outlined to Reeve Speck. The Club was to donate $15,000 if the Township could match that amount. Speck did not think much of the plan since the total budget of the Parks and Recreation was $15,000.
But Don and the members were not to be deterred. They continued to negotiate with the Township and, in 1960, managed to convince the Council that the pool was a good idea.
Westacres Pool was to become the first municipally owned sporting facility other than ball diamonds and soccer fields. Don, as Chairman of the Committee, started the Club’s efforts to raise funds in the community. A large thermometer was erected at the Applewood Village Shopping Centre. It was divided into increments of $10,000 and the theme was “Get The Boy In The Pool.” The thermometer had a sketch of a little boy as the marker.
Not too long afterward bad news struck. Cost projections amounted to almost twice the original amount. The planners estimated the costs to exceed $50,000. Don and his fellow members met with the planners and designers and came up with a few cost-saving measures.