Best swimming classes in Calgary: find options near you

Could be much cleaner and less busy, but the amenities are cool. It was $17 for two adults on a weekend. Kids 3? And under were free.

Great centre with water splash park complete with water slides and wave pool. Super fun for all ages but super busy during this summers heat wave.

There are basketball and badminton courts, jungle gym and registered yoga or martial arts classes at an additional charge. Weight room remains open after the wave pool closes. Check the website for hours of operations.

Ladies change rooms was horrendous! On multiple days, there were food wrappers and dirt all over the floor. The bathrooms smelled of urination right on the floor and around the stalls plus nasty smell. I don’t recommend going late. Come early and it’s clean.

A staff member cleaned it up after someone brought it to their attention.

Parking was packed and stalls were tight. Don’t park here or your car will be scratched or dented.

Bring a dollar or loony for the lockers. Returnable after use. Only a handful of lockable lockers with your own lock and it’s only in the Family change room.

Update…The staff and weight room were nice and clean. Updated pics of Ladies change room at closing so come early.

On Sunday it starts working at 13:15 and between hours 13:15-15:00 there are so many people that at the steam room and hot pool is a very big line . Children who wants to warm up in the warm water stands in line for at least 10-15 minutes.Just pay attention on it. And be prepared to take some food for kids from your home because food court is closed on Sunday.

We visited the aquatic center on a Sunday afternoon. As this was our first time we did not anticipate the crowd and the wait time. The place gets very busy on weekends so plan accordingly.
The overall facility is great, the wave pool, the water slides, the jungle gym is amazing for kids. The maintenance too is good however the changing rooms could be better considering the crowd.
Overall a wonderful facility.

Dear Village Square Recreation Centre Team,

We visited the facility today (June 30) at 7:00 PM and noticed that many patrons were visibly upset due to changes in the pool hours. Several individuals mentioned that they had called ahead before arriving—some after driving for over 30 minutes—only to discover upon arrival that the facility hours had not been updated or accurately reflected through the phone line or online.

This led to a lot of confusion and disappointment among guests. We believe timely and accurate communication regarding schedule changes is essential, especially for families and individuals who travel a distance to use your amenities.

We hope this feedback helps improve communication moving forward. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

I just celebrated the birthday of my eldest daughter at this location. The customer service is awesome.the staff is accommodating. If you book a swimming party here it costs $200 with 2 hours swimming and 1 hour at the party room. My daughters, together with their friends, are having so much fun. Our party room is huge. You just need to bring your food and party accessories.

Didn’t have the best experience here. Brought the kid there on Sunday morning hoping to have some pool activities before the weather gets colder in the afternoon, only to be informed that it is closed for swimming lessons. I understand that those purposes take priority, but to close down the entire pool just for that quite defeats the purpose of being «public». I even tried to call in advance to confirm the availability of the pool but couldn’t reach anyone from the facility (the phone linked me to 311, which doesn’t make sense). Checking it online is quite inconvenient because there is no official website for this particular location itself. I hope they change this. At least the staffs were nice and the pool looked well maintained.

Our favorite leisure center in Calgary. Wavy pool, splash park , 2 big slides , kiddie pool, sauna and hot tub, fitness center , physiotherapist and party rooms We like to spent couple hours on weekend here. Always clean. Even there are lots of people , you can find spot and lockers (be prepared to have quarters per locker) l.

We had a great experience at South Leisure Centre! The staff was very friendly and welcoming. Our kids especially loved the swimming pool — they had a blast with the fun activities available, including ninja obstacle courses, walking inside inflatable balls, and the wave feature, which was a highlight for all age groups.

We usually go to Village Square Leisure Centre for the big water slides, but it’s always very crowded. South Leisure may have a smaller pool in comparison, but it offers all the same amenities in a much more relaxed and less busy environment. Overall, it was a fun and enjoyable visit, and we’ll definitely be coming back!

I only skip a star because my son and I only visit on the weekends and it is so busy. Which is a testament to how great the facility is but be prepared to wait in line. We go for the family skate on the weekends and the rink is well maintained, prices are very reasonable, and there’s ample space to change in and out of your skates. I recently went for a kids birthday party and they have this great private play area you can rent out. It even has a climbing wall! Very clean and perfect for birthday parties.

Great facility with splash park, wave pool, hot tub, sauna and kiddie pool. Fitness classes, gymnastics, rock climbing wall, skating rink, squash courts, and a top notch gym with the best equipment in the entire city. Physio and massage therapy available on the second floor. Avoid weekends if you can as it can get super crowded with family swim but the gym was quiet today. Nice and clean and parking lot was packed.

This place is awesome. A hot tub that can have 25 people in it. A diving board into a 3.5m pool. Multiple water slides a wave pool that turns on and off to allow for both lots of fun. Kids wet play area with tipping buckets and spray guns etc as well as a toddler area. Tubes available for the wave pool. Lockers available for a quarter with a strap that goes around your wrist for the key. Warm showers to rinse off after being in the Suna. Friendly staff and heaps of life guards on duty actively watching and helping

Good and well maintained pitch.
However, the outcome of my game here wasn’t good because the reference was biased.
Too biased and shame on him!

My wife and I went to swim today for our anniversary.

Although we had a great time, the universal change room we went into was INSANELY dirty. Trash and dirt all over the floors.

Hopefully it will be a bit cleaner for the next time we go. :/

This facilities hockey area is one of the most poorly designed hockey arenas in Calgary. I would not recommend it. The bleachers and benches are poorly designed. To start to… The scoreboard is behind the coaches … There’s a lot of obstructions and a lot of wasted space. And it’s freezing. There is minimal or zero heat if you’re a spectator. …. UPDATE.. NOW THE WATER FOUNTAIN DOESN’T WORK

Nice facility, bad patrons.

The gym is full of great equipment, is usually quite clean, and the pool / sauna is a bonus for me. Unfortunately, it is also home to the some of the worst behaviours I’ve seen in a gym. Seems to be a 30/70 split of people who are here to workout, and people who are just here to socialize (which is fine but don’t it sitting on equipment, on the stairs, etc.), use the gym as personal daycare, are doing things blatantly wrong and don’t care to use equipment right, don’t wipe equipment, etc..

I’ve been coming here for a few years and the only saving grace I’ve found is to get here as early as possible, anytime after 9 and it becomes sometimes too busy to find any piece of equipment, and the bad behaviours come out.

Shane homes is a decent facility. There’s plenty of equipment considering the amount of tráffic that flows through.

The drop in registration needs an overhaul unfortunately. It’s my first time seeing drop ins limited by registrations and whoever can click the fastest. I hope the YMCA realizes this is a big disadvantage for those who are technically challenged.

Best recreational facility I’ve visited. The architecture is so beautiful here, and they really have maximized the space with a lot of amenities like the pool, fitness centre, gymnasium, skating rink etc. The change rooms were super clean, and there was a lot of space to get changed with wide lockers to store valuables. Loved the waterslide, and wave pool. Also a nice deep hot tub which is a good size. The only things I would suggest is spending more time cleaning the outside. All the garbage cans in the parking lot were full. Also maybe improving the elevator because it is pretty beat up. Other than that great facility. Will come back.

Decent pool, enjoy the ample parking! We were disappointed that the wave pool was being used all Saturday morning to accommodate for swimming lessons, which were also taking up half the lane pool as well. Had heard the slide in the toddler area was closed, and today (Mar 1) it still was. I asked about pool toys (balls etc) and they said all the toys were reserved for the swimming lessons. Odd. Hot tub quite small and limited perimeter seating. Overall okay. Would be avoiding this place at peak times however

When we first enrolled and received the fob for our baby, we specifically asked the Sprocket staff if both parents could attend. We were told that one parent could join the swim, and the other could sit in the pool area after showing ID — which we’ve been doing for the past three months.

Today, without any notice or policy update, we were suddenly told that only one parent is allowed inside, and if both want to attend, it now costs $20. This completely contradicts what we were told from the beginning.

We would have been totally fine if this rule was communicated upfront. But enforcing it after three months — while we were entering — and asking one parent to sit outside felt unprofessional and disappointing.

That said, the swim instructors have been excellent — no complaints there. (Giving one extra star just for them.)

The twist style door locks on the washroom/shower room are starting to stick they should be changed to heavy duty sliding locks that are simple and require less maintenance.

I visited the gym today, and it was absolutely fantastic! Filming isn’t allowed, but since my husband was curious about the equipment, I decided to take some photos—there aren’t many on Google, so I thought they might be helpful. Thanks to AI, I was able to remove almost all the people or ensure that no faces were visible, so no one would feel uncomfortable.

The gym itself is top-notch. There’s a spacious indoor running track, a huge variety of machines for every workout style, and separate locker rooms for men and women. I did take a few photos inside, even though there’s a sign saying not to—but I was careful and made sure the space was empty at the time. The locker rooms have private changing stalls, showers, and lockers. Just a heads-up: you need to bring your own lock (like the one in the photo), but if you don’t have one, they sell them at the entrance.

Everything is spotless and well-maintained! There are sanitizing wipes everywhere, and everyone seems to be great about wiping down the machines after use.

One of the best things about this gym is that if you have a membership, you can visit any location—and they all follow the same setup. So far, this Seton location is the biggest one I’ve seen! Highly recommend it!

This gym has it all. At first, I was overwhelmed by the amount of things to do, but comparing to other gyms in the area this place is a deal. You can come for 30 minutes and do cardio or you can spend here all day. Great place to come if you want to get out of the house . You can stop by the library or grab a coffee or swim or relax in the hot tub or just watch people play basketball hockey table tenants, etc.. The equipment is well maintained and you never feel like you’re on top of other people there’s plenty of room to spread out.

Slides are amazing. Hot tub is very hot. Steam room is on for the next visit.
We may get a membership. Great value for four drop in days covers monthly membership cost. Want to try tbe spin classes and dance fitness. Love the changerooms dont need codes to get in.

Brookfield Residential YMCA is a great facility — clean, spacious, and well-equipped. The pool and gym areas are well maintained, and the whole place has a welcoming vibe.

My kid had a swim test, and it went really well. The lifeguard, Anton, was super friendly and patient. He explained everything clearly and helped make my child feel confident and comfortable.

Only small concern is that it can get a bit busy at times, especially around the pool, so it’s worth planning ahead if you’re hoping for a quieter visit.
Still, overall a great experience and we’ll definitely be back!

Amazing! Best water slides and Lazy River, plus great size. It’s great but always packed. The library has a lot off quality products god books, but is always stocked out of the good books.

Third time attending this facility to take my grandchildren swimming. No wave rider open, no slides open most of the area other than the lazy river was closed for other reasons. Every time I go, it is a terrible experience because for one reason or another, they can’t seem to keep their pool area functioning properly. Absolutely waste of your money

The Brookfield Residential YMCA is by far a bigger facility than the Remington YMCA. This location offers a lot more of variety with a wide range of equipment. This facility has longer extended hours and is way closer to where I live in the city.
Unfortunately, that is where the pro’s ends for me.

I found consistently the staff here avoid work and are not approachable at all. I constantly see the front/gym staff members play with their phones. I have observed gym staff talk about member’s postures out loud; as it was not up to their standards. Instead of offering any type of assistance, they chose to mock and laugh amongst each other. It was truly distasteful.

Young people frequent this particular facility more than older people which is unfortunate as they do not abide by the rules here. Unfortunately, the staff members here do not enforce anything.

As mentioned, I enjoy the Remington YMCA location so much more. However, I like the later gym hours so I do go to both locations frequently. I very much dislike coming here though. For instance, while I was showering a little while back a group of people within the same ethnicity were singing on the top of their lungs in their ethnic language. I am a visible minority myself. However, I do not enjoy this type of obnoxious behaviour I see everytime I come here. I observed a staff member witness this. And they chose not to do anything at all as they walked away.

Additionally, using the running track here is often times a nightmare and a very dreadful process. As mentioned, young people frequent this gym and some of them are not courteous here and do not yield whatsoever when walking into the track area. Thus, runners have to yield and constantly slow down for those people crossing to avoid running into them. It’s completely backwards!Runners get the right of way when they run… so I thought at least?! This does not get enforced whatsoever. I have had to slow down for the staff members as well in the past as they were on their phones or were not paying attention.

Please do better Brookfield Residential YMCA. Some people very much have the expectation of getting quality service for what they pay for. And I feel this gets wasted by the low accountablity from the staff and management.

Overall is a good place for a workout. I would like to see a couple of Smith Machines for those working Legs alone. Some people need guidance and they either don’t ask for help because they are shy or like to be left alone but I have seen some crazy movements and terrible workouts

I had been going here for years. I did love the place until recently when I was told I didn’t wet my hair after I already showered. Some lifeguards were nice and some are not. I felt singled out as not everyone was being asked. When I complained they did start asking more people and the lifeguard told me that he had just started his shift and not all lifeguards may be asking but it’s their protocol. So I don’t like that their lifeguards are not all on the page as per the rules of the pool. Their inability to apologize after I pointed out their flaw is really what pushed me over the edge. I’m all for following the rules but that should mean everyone is treated equally. Mind you it was my first time being asked ever and other people were not impressed as well. Not all people want to dunk their hair in the water to which they offered hair caps for the women. It felt very over the top and quite funny to see all these women in caps. To pay 33 dollars for my kids and I to be harassed about my hair not being wet enough when it was in a bun seemed very odd and bad customer service.

«Beautiful facility—super clean and well-maintained. The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming! We hosted our kids’ birthday party here, and they had an amazing time. Everything was well-organized, and the kids had a blast. Highly recommend!»

Such a great place! I am in town from the States for an mma fight and came to the Y to check my weight and finish my weight cut. Everyone at the Y was so friendly, accommodating and helpful. Plus the location and facility are gorgeous and so well maintained. Cannot recommend enough!

I have been a 5:30am weekday morning regular since moving to the area in June 2023. Best time to go – lots of other regulars, friendly staff and clean. It’s a smaller YMCA in comparison to Seton but I prefer the quieter venue. I pay the extra for the private change rooms and towel service.

Possibly the most lit up rec center I have been to.
Not a huge fan of sharing the door to the change room, but I do like how individual change rooms are available.
Great job on the workout center and the pool is nice and big

I have to say I enjoyed going to this Y. I’m only going to this location because I’m waiting for the Seton Y to open the pools. Would I make this my go to gym? Probably Not but if I lived in that area then I would.

I’m not a fan of the comunial washroom idea, it’s too busy and messy. I would rather prefer the traditional way.

It does have plus membership which could be super handy, avoid all the kids!

Overall it’s a really impressive building. Love the glass finish on the basketball courts.

I used to love vivo, my girls have been going there for many years. My daughter went skating today, we were not informed ( before I paid) that the arena is shared with hockey players. I don’t really think that this shared option is safe. Kids playing hockey don’t stay all the time on their side and pucks go to the skaters side being a hazard for them. Then a bunch of kids came onto the ice with their shoes running around. I couldn’t even stay with my daughter even though I didn’t have skating equipment so I had to watch everything from the second floor while others do whatever they want without following the rules because no one is supervising. If you are going to be strict with the entrance for minors parents be strict with everyone not following the rules. A very disappointing experience.

Good community center serving the Panorama Hills community.. possibly two more communities nearby.. parking gets tricky during peak hours specially on the west side of the building..and second problem is, very few programs for adults..

Love this place for family activities! Not only in nearly the whole building nice and accessible, there’s so much to do! There’s a library (with accessible washrooms) A nice pool with deep and shallow spots, and a few sports areas such as badminton and basketball. We love hanging out on the Social Stair (which are nice big «stairs» on the East end of the building).
Overall I would recommend this place for families looking to be active, especially in the colder months!

Excellent Service and an Outstanding Team!

I’ve been using VIVO’s facility for over a year now, and I’m consistently impressed by the level of professionalism and care shown by the entire team. Every time we’ve rented the facility, Josh and Neil have gone above and beyond to ensure the booking process is smooth, every detail is handled, and all safety measures are in place.

Josiah, who recently joined, has also been incredibly helpful and prompt in his service—clearly just as committed as the rest of the team.

I truly appreciate the dedication, enthusiasm, and attention to detail that the management brings to every interaction. On top of that, the facility is always clean, and the staff are warm, cheerful, and genuinely helpful.

VIVO is without a doubt one of the best sports facilities in Calgary!

2 years and more I’ve seen this blue bin. No hooks in pool showers. You should have a strong jaw to hold your towels and bags. Hair and dirt in the bathrooms. Spoke with Guest services and did a walkthrough showing her all these points two months back. No change! Manager is usually under training or in conferences. He is too busy to meet when you want to discuss these concerns!

I regret to buy a membership. It’s expensive to be member but it has been 3 times they did not allow members for swimming. Pool are packed with students. It seems like members are free. Unfortunately we pay for membership fees too. Unfair. Customer service are saying to put your name on the waiting lists we will call you but no the didn’t I rather drive a bite than not able to use my pass and it’ll be expires.

Vivo for Healthier Generations is an exceptional community center that truly has something for everyone! I recently visited and was thoroughly impressed by the facilities. The swimming pool and saunas are fantastic, offering a great space for both leisure and exercise. I adore the lazy river type pool. It is fun for the whole family. The gym is well-equipped, and there are plenty of workout programs throughout the day to suit various fitness levels and interests.

For those who love adventure, the rock climbing wall is a thrilling addition that is sure to challenge climbers of all ages. There’s also a wonderful playground for children, making it a perfect spot for families to spend quality time together.

To top it all off, the library within the building adds a nice touch, providing resources for learning and relaxation. Vivo for Healthier Generations is a perfect community hub that promotes health, fitness, and family fun!

This is a well run pool. Great staff at the desk lifeguards are very courteous and helpful.
Very clean facilities and enjoy going three times a week meeting friends in classes.
Our instructors make the classes fun with lots of energy.

Overall amazing pool, clean, well run, staff is friendly and in the morning many regular Swimmers there. i love using my pass and drop in anytime. Steam Room is amazing better then many i have been too. Really enjoy the facility!

слишком холодная вода. в других бассейнах не так холодно. женских и общих раздевалках не чистые полы, босиком противно ходить, обязательно налипнет чей-то волос. вода в душе помимо того, что автоматически отключается, так еще и холодная. спортзал неплохой, но нет помощников. иногда вижу людей, которые не справляются с тренажерами, а спросить некого. несмотря на это персонал очень приятный и отзывчивый

Overall nice place;
I had been here for swimming and hence all my review are related to that; I have not explored other facilities by them.

So for swimming –
1. Pay and swim – prices are in one my picture which has all rates
2. Then comes locker –
You need to lock your belongings either with 25 or 50 cent locker (you make sure of carrying coin) or the lock for lock with your own lock and key
3. You are expected to take a bath with soap before and after swim
4. Life jackets; swim board; Etc all are free inside for pool
5. There are four pools they have ;
A. Main swimming pool (normal or cold water when I visited)
B. Hot water ; smaller in size ; but good to start with
C. Dive pool
D. Kids pool with all play items
6. I went in public swim time so it has 1hr30min time to swim on Sat (12:30 to 2:00); on Sunday 9:30 to 11:30.
7. There are lot of lifeguards around to watch for safety
8. Check out new photos for the latest schedule (14 Jan 2023 visit).

Love this place when booking my kids swimming lessons. Lane pools, hot tub, kids warm pool, and plenty of bleachers for spectators. Only downside since it is a city run pool, the shower temps seem to be a little cold.

Dear Mostafa,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for your quick and selfless actions when you saved me at the Killarney Aquatic & Recreation Centre swimming pool the other day. In a moment of real danger, you didn’t hesitate—you jumped in and pulled me to safety.

I can’t thank you enough for your professionalism, vigilance, and bravery. Without you, things could have ended very differently, and I am truly grateful for your presence that day. Your dedication to keeping people safe is admirable, and I now have an even greater appreciation for the important work lifeguards do.

Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Sincerely,

Joanne Shen

Clean, great prices, spacious, friendly and kind staff. Tons of parking too- We love Killarney ❤️

I’m very impressed with this gym I have been coming here for years with my friends to workout after school and it never disappoints. Large variety of equipment. The only issue is the hours on the weekends but other than that it’s great

Nice facility but I think they are overdue for some renovations. Parking lot is always full. Some staff are not very friendly or social. I’ve said hello and thank you to the gentleman at the computer when I scan my card several times but he never responds or is always busy having a conversation with his colleagues not work related. Lifeguards yell at you instead of calmly speaking to you which is very disrespectful. There isn’t consistency with the swim instructors and what they are teaching at the same levels. One day the instructor is playing games and doing activities that are too difficult/ dangerous for the age group. Another day a different instructor is focused more on skills (which is great!) Safety concerns me for the kiddos.

Please PLEASE offer more hours of operation to this location. 9pm closing time for weekdays and 5pm on the weekend is shameful. There seems to be 4-5 staff members at the front desk who just talk to each other and are bothered when you ask a question. Maybe they can work the extra hours the members need the facility available for.
Please also be on top of adding better shower gel.

Small and tightly knit, seems like everyone knows everyone else. Made friends with CJ especially and he sees talent and makes sure he helps to the max. Fixed form, evaluated mobility and weaknesses and even printed out a powerlifting routine on paper. Made it 6 stars.

Yesterday, my son and I were at the pool, expecting to enjoy the services we had paid for. At the time, two lanes in the pool were unoccupied, which was confirmed by staff members. I chose one of the lanes to swim, but within minutes, I was asked to leave the pool and move to the shallow end because swimming lessons were about to start.

I was not informed beforehand that the entire pool would be occupied for lessons. If I had known, I would not have wasted my time. My son was visibly upset by this disruption, and instead of enjoying our time together at the pool, I found myself running between staff members trying to resolve the issue on my own.

I initially raised the matter with the staff, and they assured me that someone would come to the pool to address the situation. However, no one showed up. When I followed up, the staff member simply waved me off, saying they were on their way, but then disappeared without providing any assistance.

When I returned to the reception desk to seek help, I was informed that my membership can be canceled as a solution. And they cancelled it without a refund and my permission! This abrupt action was taken instead of finding a suitable resolution.

Given the circumstances, I believe the service I paid for was not provided, and I was treated unfairly.

So when you call ahead of time to confirm you can get a +drop in, they will tell you yes no problem. You go down there and they deny you entry. This place needs to figure out their policies.

I’ve been a member of the YMCA for almost three years, and today I had a deeply disappointing experience. I was stopped by staff for wearing jeans—a rule I was completely unaware of because it was never communicated to me. For three years, nobody mentioned this, and the rule was never enforced, yet today I was abruptly told to «look at the sign upstairs.»

What made the situation even more frustrating was that the manager admitted the staff failed to communicate this rule to me previously. Despite this acknowledgment, I was still made to feel embarrassed and unwelcome. I wasn’t even using any equipment or doing heavy workouts—just walking—yet I was treated as if I had intentionally violated the policy.

This inconsistent enforcement and lack of upfront communication left me feeling unfairly singled out. After three years of loyal membership, I expected respect and clear communication, not to be stopped in this way. This experience has made me seriously question the professionalism and inclusivity of this Crowfoot YMCA location. Very disappointing and unacceptable.

Absolutely careless ! Your safety is your own responsibility for their ignorance and unacceptable maintenance practices of their gym equipment. You pay your monthly fees to get hurt and instead of acknowledging the fact, they make you feel you signed the waiver so they aren’t obliged to anything.

I am a long time user of this facility and not writing this review lightly. This facility needs to learn to maintain equipment and have some refresher trainings for their OH&S officers.

Due to ignored maintenance on the gym equipment (assisted pull up weight machine) – the weight rope broke (same as all gym users I didn’t inspect all internals of the equipment as equipment was in normal service – but rope was originally frayed) while I was on equipment, falling down and eventually hurting myself. I reported (written) it to the on duty manager and staff. They assured, they will investigate immediately and will ensure the maintenance is performed regularly and safety officer will get in touch with me. (Check the picture attached that clearly shows that the rope maintenance was ignored for a long time.)

Safety officer contacted me a sweet week after asking I was okay and assuring maintenance will be reinforced. I asked the copy of my complaint and I was informed by the safety officer that YMCA won’t give a copy unless I ask for a copy through my lawyer. She wished me all the best for my well being and left me with nothing., promising she will call again.

Couple days after I reported similar maintenance issue on other equipment (sit up bench) – did the same as before – reported to on duty manager and staff. At the time of writing this review, at least 3 equipment are broken and out of service – the one that I fell from, is still waiting to get fixed after almost 2 months.

Safety officer contacted again after 2 more weeks for follow up. I reported her the situation of repeat occurrence of unacceptable maintenance practices that she has nothing to say other than «we follow maintenance procedures» and totally ignored to acknowledge the fact that they need to improve the maintenance practices for safety of gym users. I also discussed my doctor’s note and informed that doctor recommended physiotherapy sessions.

When I asked if YMCA offers these physio sessions or do the payment to physio office, the OH&S officer of YMCA responded, yeah you signed the waiver to use our facility- we do not pay for the injuries / physio !!!

What an unethical response, what an unprofessional management! With this incident, I am totally convinced that YMCA Hefty fees are not worth paying. Even other popular 24×7 gyms in the city takes better ownership when things like this happens and that too at 1/5 of the cost of membership or even less.

Please understand I had to take time to write this long review hoping YMCA management cares. I am not posting from an anonymous account to hide my ID !.

My family intended to use the teaching pool for half an hour, but after eleven minutes, we were asked to clear the pool area due to a situation. When the pool reopened, we only had five minutes left before the teaching pool was closed for swimming lessons at 9am. I did not feel we got the full value of our admission, even though the staff suggested the main pool was open for use but it was not a suitable substitute. The main pool is too deep and cold for my two toddlers.

When I explained my predicament to one of their customer service representatives, their demeanor was far from professional. Instead of the assistance I anticipated, I encountered mocking undertones when I requested to speak to a manager. This type of interaction is entirely unacceptable and does not reflect the standard of customer service I expect from your establishment.

The YMCA is an incredible place, and I especially want to highlight the front desk staff—they are absolutely amazing! Every time I walk in, I’m greeted with a warm smile and genuine professionalism. It sets such a positive tone for the day.

A special shoutout to the front desk supervisor—I believe her name is Anmol. She is truly outstanding! Always ready and willing to help, she greets everyone with a beautiful smile and makes you feel welcomed and valued as a member. Her kindness and leadership shine through.

Thank you, YMCA, for creating such a positive, supportive environment. You’ve helped reduce our stress and added uplifting energy to our daily routine. Keep up the great work!

I recently noticed that a locker instruction notice at the YMCA is written only in Punjabi. While it’s great to see efforts to support Punjabi-speaking members, it’s important to remember that the YMCA is a public facility in Canada, where English and French are the official languages.

For the sake of accessibility, inclusiveness, and proper communication, YMCA locker instructions should be provided in both English and French, in addition to any other language if needed. This ensures that all members, regardless of language background, can understand how to use the facilities safely and effectively.

I kindly request the YMCA to update the signage to include English and French translations, so that everyone feels equally informed and respected.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

I have been a member with YMCA Saddletowne for some time now, and it has been a wonderful experience. The programs are well-organized and cater to all ages and interests. The staff are always friendly, supportive, and willing to help, making the environment welcoming and inclusive. The facility is clean, well-maintained, and offers a variety of activities that promote health, wellness, and community engagement. Whether you’re looking for fitness programs, recreational activities, or a great place to connect with others, YMCA Saddletowne is an excellent choice. Highly recommend!

Unfortunately, my experience with the YMCA was extremely disappointing. I was treated in a way that clearly reflected discrimination and bias, simply because of my background or appearance. I expected this organization to be inclusive and respectful to everyone, but what I encountered was the opposite. The racism and unfair treatment were obvious and completely unacceptable—especially in a country like Canada that values diversity and equality. I truly hope the YMCA takes serious steps to review its policies and provide proper training to ensure all individuals are treated with dignity and respec

Something about this place keeps me coming back ‍♂️ I don’t really know how to explain it. I think they’ve just created a respectful, family environment and they’ve worked hard fixing issues that customers may have. They’ve also become a lot cleaner. Of course there is always room for improvement but I believe they’re also aware of that.

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.