FORT SIMPSON - There was some swashbuckling fun to be had at the Fort Simpson pool on July 21.

Saturday was proclaimed Pirate Day at the pool and everyone coming to the facility during public swim from 2 to 4 p.m. was encouraged to arrive in costume.

Staff at the Fort Simpson pool including Eve Wright, left, Jackie Thompson and Ian Dahlman were decked out in costume for Pirate Day. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The idea for Pirate Day came from two pool staff, Eve Wright and Jackie Thompson. Wright said they were thinking of different theme days that they could offer.

"Pirates seemed like a good one since it's a pool," said Wright with a paper pirate hat perched on her head.

Once swimmers were in the water, the pirate theme continued.

Popular pool games were modified to give them a salty twist. The familiar cry of Marco Polo was changed into captain and hook and during a game called Octopus, youth were encouraged to yell "pirates ahoy."

No pirate would be complete without treasure, so swimmers were sent on a hunt to find special coins. Youth were gathered in one corner of the pool while staff scattered coins from South American countries in the water. The coins were donated by lifeguard Ian Dahlman. Each coin was redeemable for a small prize.

"It's fun," said Tia Hardisty from the pool.

"I looked for treasure."

Hardisty had a number of coins from Uruguay to show for her effort.

Near the end of the swim session, youth were treated to a viewing of the classic pirate movie- Peter Pan. The movie was special because most of the swimmers had never watched a video at a pool before, said Wright, the pool supervisor.

Swimmers were then sent away with complimentary pirate hats made out of paper and eye patches so they could continue being a pirate at home.

Theme days have proven to be popular at the pool.

The first one was the bubble bash held on July 7. Johnson's baby soap was added to the pool water and swimmers were encouraged to sit on the pool edge and kick their legs in the water to stir up the bubbles.

Swimmers spent the rest of the day playing in water covered in a layer of bubbles. The bubbles were supposed to dissipate with time and water changes.

"There's still a little bit in there," said Wright.

A few more theme days are in the works. There might be a SpongeBob SquarePants day in August and one final day before the pool is closed for the season, she said.

Theme days aren't the only big draw at the pool. Public swims are the busiest sessions, said Wright.

Between 25 and 30 children usually show up for the public swim. During the week of the Dehcho Annual Assembly, it wasn't unusual for more than 40 people to be lined up wanting to swim.

Although the pool seemed to be slow during the beginning of the summer, things are picking up in both public swim and swimming lessons, said Wright.

Wright arrived from Delisle, Sask. to run the Fort Simpson pool. In Delisle she was part of a lifeguard club and coached children between the ages of eight to 18 for Lifesaving Society awards.

Other pool staff includes Ian Dahlman from Calgary, and Jackie Thompson and Colin Stipdonk from Fort Simpson.

Wright said her favourite part of working at the pool is the day care sessions because she gets to go in the water with the young children.

"Lessons are fun too," said Wright.