Thornhill Aquatic & Recreation Centre

I've been taking my kids to Thornhill Aquatic & Recreation Centre for swimming classes and we've had a fantastic experience! The instructors are knowledgeable, patient, and engaging, making lessons enjoyable and effective for my little ones. The swimming program is well-structured, and I've seen significant progress in my kids' skills and confidence. The staff is friendly and accommodating, making it easy to manage schedules and communicate needs. However the building itself shows its age. While cleanliness is maintained, the facilities could benefit from modernization and renovation. The changing rooms, in particular, could use an update. Despite this, the centre's strengths outweigh its weaknesses. Convenient location, reasonable prices, and excellent swimming instruction make it an excellent choice for families like mine.

Amazing place filled with really great and friendly people! From all different backgrounds ethnicities and walks of life we only together with a common goal and that is to be healthy friendly and supportive. This place is a small ecosystem of what Calgary is all about. I'm so glad that I have this so close to my home as it is a home away from home. Whether it's going to the sauna and hot tub for a relax after a long day of moving my feet or an early morning rainy day to get in my 5 km jog on the treadmill I'm always greeted by friendly faces and kind people Thank you so much! All of the staff are incredible too and are really friendly and accommodating!

After reading the reviews about the change rooms and the cleanliness of the facility. I thought I should give an update since most of them are a couple years old. I don't know what has changed whether it's staffing or lack of staffing to clean the facility properly, but in general the place is gross. I've seen hair on the walls that stays there for days and days. Dirty tiles. Dirty toilets overflowing toilets. Lack of maintenance. Dirty lockers pretty much. If you're going to go there, make sure you have water shoes and sandals when you get out and have to walk through the bathroom. Most of the time in the ladies there is hair everywhere. There's also an issue with the water temperature in the showers. Sometimes it's alarm most of the time. It's either scalding hot or cold. The sauna is probably one of the coldest in the city and there is a hot tub that is out of service. I'd say 40% of the time and it's pretty gross. I've been going there for 3 years and I have seen a decline. There is also an issue with people using their cell phones in the change room in the shower area. Pretty much wherever they want and there is a lack of enforcement. I've seen lifeguards walk through the bathroom and pass a person on their cell phone and say nothing. The staff however are friendly approachable and capable. There is a lack of communication. However, most of the time the schedule online is wrong and if you ask a staff member they don't know what's going on from 1 hour to the next. This has been an ongoing issue. Like I said, the only reason I gave this four stars instead of two is because of the great staff and classes

Great Facility for Families! Thornhill Aquatic and Recreation Centre is a gem in the community! The pool area is super clean and well-maintained, with friendly lifeguards always on duty. My kids love the leisure pool and waterslide, and I enjoy using the lap pool for a good workout. Staff is courteous and helpful every time we visit. Highly recommend for families!

Well organized, my 4 yr old daughter is having so much fun on her swimming lesson. I salute all the swimming instructors for their dedication and passion in teaching their students well, most especially the instructor of my daughter (6:30pm.to 7pm slot). This location provides excellent service.

I recently visited Thornhill Aquatics, and it was a disappointing experience. The facility is clearly outdated, with worn-down equipment and poor maintenance. It has the potential to be a great community space, but it feels neglected. One of the biggest frustrations was the lack of a visible swimming lesson schedule. There was no way to check online, no signs in the facility, and staff weren’t helpful. Planning ahead was impossible, making the whole process unnecessarily difficult. Supervision was another major issue. Kids were running wild, splashing, and playing unsafely with little to no control. The lifeguards seemed disengaged, doing the bare minimum instead of enforcing rules or maintaining order. It made the environment feel chaotic and even unsafe. The pool itself wasn’t heated, making for an uncomfortable swim, and a hose was oddly running into the dive tank, which seemed like a maintenance issue. The hot tub wasn’t much better—barely warm instead of the relaxing experience it should be. The change rooms also left a lot to be desired. They didn’t seem clean and clearly needed work. There were no shower curtains or any kind of privacy in the showers, which seemed a bit odd for a public facility. To top it off, the staff seemed indifferent, adding to the unwelcoming atmosphere. And if you try calling for information? It’s a joke—they just hang up.

Disappointing Experience with Parent & Tot Swim Class I enrolled in a Parent & Tot swim class and was thoroughly disappointed. There was no clear information about the class timing, and we were unaware that it was only 30 minutes long. Arriving just 5 minutes late, we were told to wait by the pool for the instructor. Despite greeting her, we were ignored. After waiting 25 minutes, we were informed that the class had ended at 1:30 PM. Standing by the pool with a toddler, feeling overlooked, was incredibly frustrating. I hope the facility addresses these communication issues to improve future experiences.