Opening day for Vernon's summer water attraction has been dampened by red tape.
Splashdown Vernon was set to open for the season today, Friday, June 27, but the park said on its website and social media pages that the opening has been delayed because "we are facing permitting delays."
"It is unfortunate to say that we currently do not have an update for the 2025 summer," wrote park management on its Facebook page. "We assure you that all work was diligently completed in anticipation of the summer."
Chris Steunenberg and his family have been in the business for close to 30 years. They own Splashdown as well as water and amusement parks at Cultus Lake, near Chilliwack. Technical Safety B.C. (TSBC) oversees water parks and amusement facilities. This is the first time Steunenberg has not secured an operating permit in time for opening day.
In an email to The Morning Star, TSBC said it conducted pre-season inspections at Splashdown. Five slides are currently allowed to operate, but non-compliances were identified, and six slides have been issued a failed certificate of inspection.
"When hazardous or recurring non-compliances are identified, the operator must address them before those slides are permitted to operate," said TSBC in its email. "We have shared the requirements for the operator to complete the work, and we will be ready to conduct any required follow-up inspections as quickly as possible."
Said Steunenberg Friday morning: "TSBC has not given us any indication on when the permits will be forthcoming." He added that he's had several meetings with TSBC, some as early as March and April 2025.
Following an incident at the Bridal Falls Waterpark (near Chilliwack) in July 2024 that resulted in several injuries, including a life-altering injury to a child, age 11, TSBC issued three specific recommendations to water slide park owners. They include updating inspection procedures and training protocols so that slide defects can be detected before they present a hazard for riders, and identifying and documenting changing conditions of the slide over time so owners can make good decisions around lifecycle management of their water slides.
Splashdown Vernon has a tube slide that is the same style and approximate age as the one referenced in the report.
"We shared the findings and recommendations from this report in advance of the 2025 operating season to help water park operators prevent these types of incidents from occurring in the future," said TSBC. "We understand water slides are a popular summer attraction and Technical Safety BC's priority is to oversee their safe operation."
"The TSBC made it clear what we needed to do, and we did that," said Steunenberg. "There has been a lack of communication and a lack of response (from TSBC)."
Not being able to open ahead of one of the busiest weekends of summer is bad news for the business, and for the young staff hoping to have a summer job.
"We hired them, trained them, and scheduled them," said Steunenberg. "It's the start of the Canada Day weekend, possibly five days this year. People have booked hotels, the weather looks amazing. It's a major event. So the delay is tough. There is quite a bit of negative fallout from this delay."
Splashdown Vernon said it will provide updates for customers on its website.
