City Launches New Recreation Membership Model December 1

Island Park Drive residents will see a new, streamlined way to access recreation programs starting Monday, December 1, as the City launches its updated membership and admissions model. The overhaul aims to make fees more consistent across facilities while giving residents more flexibility to choose activities that fit their needs and budget.

A Model Shaped by Public Input

The revised framework is the result of a comprehensive review by the City’s Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services department. The process included public engagement sessions and a price benchmarking study comparing Ottawa’s rates to those in other municipalities. Council approved the final report earlier this year.

Three-Tier Fee Structure Introduced

The new system simplifies both drop-in fees and membership passes into a three-tier structure based on the cost of delivering each type of activity:

• Basic: The most affordable tier, covering popular activities such as public swims, lane swims, skating, and gym sports.

• Plus: Activities requiring specialized equipment or facilities, including cardio-weight rooms, squash and racquetball courts, and ice sports like hockey and curling.

• Super: The most resource-intensive offerings, including group fitness classes, aquafitness, wave swims, and rock-wall climbing.

Membership prices increase with each tier. However, higher-tier memberships include access to all lower-tier activities. In addition, the City is removing the previous Class A and B facility designations, meaning memberships will now be valid at more than 50 recreation facilities across Ottawa.

More Flexibility and Better Value

Residents can choose between drop-in visits, multi-visit passes, or annual memberships. For those who participate in an activity more than four times per month, the City says annual memberships will offer the best value. Memberships come with no initiation fees and can be cancelled at any time without penalty.

Household memberships cover up to two adults, and anyone under 25 living at the same address can be added at no extra cost. To ease the transition, fee increases for current members will be capped at $5 per month for individuals and $10 per month for households until the new rate is fully phased in.

Financial assistance through the City’s Hand in Hand program remains available for individuals and families with lower incomes, and discounts for children, youth, seniors, and families will continue.

Affordable Access to Active Living

The City emphasizes that access to recreation is key to supporting residents’ physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Extensive market research confirms that Ottawa’s updated pricing remains among the most affordable in the region and across Ontario.

City officials say the new structure ensures long-term sustainability of recreation services while keeping them accessible to residents of all ages.

The updated membership and admissions model comes into effect citywide on December 1.