June 6, 2023
Edmontonians are actively returning to City of Edmonton recreation centres, improving their physical health and enhancing their mental well-being. From January to May in 2023, total attendance reached 96 per cent of what it was in 2019. Active memberships, Leisure Access Program enrolment, and program attendance are all currently higher than they were in 2019. Registrations for City-run summer day camps are nearly back to pre-pandemic levels.
Recreation facilities are bustling with more youth program participation than in 2019. This momentum is supported by the introduction of the After-School Youth Pass in September 2022, extension of Leisure Access membership eligibility from one to two years, and promotion of a 7-Day Free Trial program in May that offered patrons access to the City’s small and medium recreation centres for free for an entire week.
“The City of Edmonton’s recreation centres bring people together and help families connect with their community,” said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. “I am so happy to see that families are coming back to pre-pandemic levels to take in all that our recreation centres have to offer.”
Attendance numbers include:
- More than three million visits since January 2023.
- Year-to-date total attendance at recreation and leisure centres is 3,360,228 in 2023 compared to 3,531,308 in 2019.
- 22,914 active memberships in 2023, compared to 21,906 for the same time period in 2019.
- 1,900 Edmontonians participated in the 7-Day Free Trial program for our small and medium-sized recreation centres during the month of May.
With 20 convenient locations across Edmonton, City recreation centres are accessible from all areas of the city. Our community hubs are much more than fitness centres and pools. They are spaces where Edmontonians gather with friends, family and community to share unforgettable moments and connections that last a lifetime.
Increased attendance helps to achieve broader City Plan goals by building a sense of community and belonging among Edmontonians, enhancing health and well-being and contributing to a vibrant city.
