Recreation programs & registration
Winter 2021 Activity & Program Guide
Kelowna's Winter Activity & Program Guide is now online featuring recreation and cultural programs for January to April 2021.
View the WINTER Activity & Program Guide
BROWSE PROGRAMS & REGISTER ONLINE
Please note: Provincial health orders are currently in place restricting a number of program types including adult registered programs and team sports. This public health order is in place until at least February 5, 2021. As the winter guide features recreation and cultural programs running from January-April 2021, program registrants should be aware that all programs listed in the guide are subject to change or cancellations based on ongoing Provincial direction in relation to COVID-19 measures.
Ways to register:
1. Register online at rec.kelowna.ca
2. Register by phone at 250-469-8800
Please note that in-person registration is currently unavailable.
Check back for the latest updates or sign up for Active Living & Culture e-updates to have the latest recreation news sent straight to your inbox.
Providing safe recreational opportunities is our priority in Active Living & Culture as we navigate the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. All programs and recreation facilities have been adapted with safety in mind and will continue to be subject to change to ensure alignment with the latest Provincial health orders. Facility guidelines and safety plans will be updated as further guidance is received from the Province. See below for the latest health order updates and the impact to current or future recreation offerings:
On January 7, the existing health order and province-wide restrictions in place were extended until February 5, 2021.
In relation to City recreation programs, this update means:
Team-based adult sports and leagues for the winter season are cancelled until February 5. Activities such as pickleball and badminton may continue but with singles play only. Kids sport programs under the age of 21 may run at Level 2 (higher focus on skill development versus gameplay) as per ViaSport's Return to Sport guidelines.
- All adult programs (19+) with the exception of low intensity fitness programs have been cancelled up until February 5th and impacted registrants will have course credits automatically refunded to their account. If you are registered in a cancelled program, and would like to request a refund rather than account credits, please call 250-469-8800.
The following fitness program types are deemed low intensity by BC Health Officials and are able to run at this time at all age levels:
- Barre (lower intensity classes)
- Exercise machines/cardio equipment (low intensity)
- Light weightlifting
- Pilates (lower intensity classes)
- Stretching
- Tai-Chi
- Yoga (hatha)
On December 7, the province-wide restrictions currently in place were extended until January 8, 2020.
In a sport and recreation context, that means adult-based team sports and high-intensity fitness classes such as spin and boot camp will continue to be suspended until at least January 8th.
A number of the City’s adult team sport programs will be suspended immediately including volleyball, soccer and hockey to ensure alignment with the latest Provincial direction around COVID-19 safety measures announced on December 2, 2020.
Any City-league or adult sport program participants impacted by this latest order will be contacted directly.
On Nov. 26, 2020, health officials in British Columbia issued a new order calling for the mandatory use of masks in retail and indoor public spaces. This includes wearing a mask in all spaces within City recreation facilities and arenas.
Masks can be removed only when engaging in physical activity.
More details about the masks requirement including exceptions are detailed at kelowna.ca/prc.
As part of the Province-wide restrictions in place to curb the spread of COVID-19, high intensity indoor group physical activities such as spin classes, bootcamps, circuit training and dance-based fitness classes have been suspended until further notice.
An update to the order issued on Nov. 19 also calls for the temporary suspension of some indoor group fitness programs until further safety guidelines can be provided by the Province.
Impacted program participants have been, and will continue to be contacted directly and cancelled class credits will be applied to participants accounts.
BC’s Provincial Health Officer issued a new health order on Nov. 19 that no spectators are allowed at indoor or outdoor sporting or recreation activities until further notice.
Our Active Living & Culture team is excited to welcome you back for a new season of recreation programming, though it's certainly not business as usual! In solidarity with public health efforts across British Columbia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we ask that all recreation program participants read, understand, follow and respect the Safe Return to Recreation guidelines below. Find sport-specific COVID-19 protocols for all adult sports at kelowna.ca/sports.
- Larger or outdoor spaces are used to ensure two metre (six-foot) distancing.
- Program capacities have been reduced based on the space and type of activity.
- Please do not arrive more than five minutes before your class/booking.
- Activities may be modified including a higher focus on individual vs. team play.
- Spectators aren’t permitted at indoor or outdoor classes or programs at this time.
- Facility modifications including increased signage, floor markings and barriers are in place.
- Hand sanitizer and/or handwashing facilities are available at all indoor and outdoor City facilities.
- Frequent handwashing will be promoted at our facilities.
- Water fountains will not be available; please bring your own water bottle.
Following direction from the Provincial Health Officer, additional safety procedures are being implemented for all City staff, instructors and public visiting City recreation facilities including a requirement to wear masks. Common areas where masks are required such as program spaces, foyers, change rooms and program spaces will be clearly marked.
Wearing a mask is not recommended:
- while engaged in physical activity (such as running on a treadmill or swimming in the pool).
- for people with underlying medical conditions that affect their ability to wear a face covering.
- for those unable to place, use or remove a face covering safely without assistance.
- for individuals who are communicating with someone who is hearing-impaired or has another disability, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication
- for children under the age of 2 years old. Masks are recommended for children between 2 and 12 years of age, and required for children 12 years and up as per the latest Provincial direction.
If you have any questions about safety guidelines in place at City recreation facilities, please call 250-469-8800.
- Stay home if you’re sick! Before visiting recreation facilities or attending programs, participants and staff are asked to do a self-check and stay home if experiencing any symptoms.
- Anyone displaying symptoms while attending a recreation program or while visiting a recreation facility will be kindly asked to leave for the collective health and safety of everyone.
- High touch areas will be cleaned frequently.
- Disinfecting spray or wipes will be available at all programs and indoor spaces.
- Equipment will not be shared without proper cleaning in between.
- Extra time is scheduled between activities for cleaning.
- Come prepared to play as change room access will be limited.
Staying active, especially in the winter months is important for physical and mental wellbeing.
With a COVID safety plan in place, the current restrictions in place by BC's Medical Health Officer allow for:
- public skating (including both indoor and outdoor at Stuart Park) and pool activities (excluding events)
- low intensity group exercise (all ages)
- Individual workouts and personal training sessions in gyms and recreation facilities
- sport and extracurricular activities for children and youth under the age of 19
- singles play racquet sports such as Pickleball and badminton
Learn more about safely adapted programs available this winter in the Winter 2021 Activity & Program Guide.
The Activity & Program Guide is being offered online only to allow for flexibility throughout the season (programs could be added, removed, or changed as needed). This pandemic is unpredictable, so we need to be adaptable and a printed guide simply doesn’t allow for that.
Yes. Please call 250-469-8800 between 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Monday to Friday or 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday or email recreation@kelowna.ca to withdraw yourself from a program. You can choose to be fully refunded or we can credit your account for a future program. The standard $5 withdrawal fee applies unless the withdrawal is COVID-19 related. Please note that refunds may take up to four weeks to process depending on method of payment.
Those registered in swim lessons can expect the following COVID-related safety protocols in place:
- As per Red Cross recommendations, a parent or guardian is required to be in the water for all preschool lessons (Sea Otter, Salamander, Sunfish, Crocodile, Whale) as well as Swim Kids 1 & 2, to assist their child.
- Strict maximum capacities are in place for all lessons – only 4-6 children per lesson are available at this time.
- Frequent, enhanced cleaning of the aquatics area each day, as well as disinfecting of swim lesson equipment after use.
- Disinfecting wipes are available on site to disinfect lockers and changeroom benches.
- Participants will enter through the front doors and are asked to arrive no earlier than 15 minutes prior to their designated swim lesson start time.
- Children are encouraged to arrive in their bathing suits as changeroom access will be limited.
- Anyone who is sick or experiencing symptoms is asked to stay home.
Paper report cards, including sticker or badge will still be available. Learn more about swimming lessons at Parkinson Recreation Centre at kelowna.ca/prc.
Programs listed in the Winter 2021 Activity & Program Guide were planned with current provincial health restrictions in mind.
However, when the guide was released in early December, we could not predict whether the current health order will continue past January 2021, or continue to be adapted in any way. As programs listed in the Winter 2021 Activity & Program Guide span from January to early April 2021, it's too soon to tell if future programs will continue to be impacted.
We are currently accepting registration for fitness classes and adult-based team sports past February 5th, but want to be clear that there is a possibility these types of programs may continue to be suspended. By allowing registration, participants have the opportunity to reserve their spot for when it is deemed appropriate for these programs to run safely or in an adapted manner. Notification systems are in place to let registered participants know of any changes or cancellations if and when they occur and credits for any cancelled courses will be automatically credited to customer accounts.
All programs listed in Kelowna's seasonal activity guides will continue to be dependent on direction from BC’s Medical Health Officer and our Provincial sport and recreation partners.
If a program needs to be adapted or canceled due to an update to public health orders, all registered participants will be contacted directly and cancelled class credits will be applied to accounts.
Those registered in programs will need to wear a mask up until the point of engaging in physical activity. That includes entering and exiting the facility, while using washroom facilities or visiting any other common area throughout the recreation facility. For more information about masks including exemptions, visit kelowna.ca/prc.
We understand that registering for your desired program is important. We’re currently working to make improvements to ensure registration runs smoothly, especially during the week that registration opens each season. Many of our programs are in high demand which can create a high volume of web and phone traffic during registration week.
We evaluate registration each season and use your feedback to make improvements.
Some of the current improvements in progress include:
- Improving bandwidth and payment processing for online registration
- Maximizing the number of phone lines available and staff to assist on registration days
- Changing registration start time to 7 a.m. to better accommodate work and school schedules
- Staggering registration start dates for summer camps to better accommodate parents’ ability to plan ahead for summer and reduce demand on the system during registration days
