Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre

Please note Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre will be closed from Monday, June 19 to Sunday, July 2 for annual maintenance, including upgrades to the pool, gym, changerooms and lobby. Due to the maintenance upgrade, the pool at the facility will close as of Thursday, June 15. During this time, programs and rentals will not be offered.

The Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre is located at 656 Elizabeth Street.

Hours of operation 

This community centre is open for recreation programming and rentals. Hours of operation vary day to day. For questions about programs and hours please call 519-661-5575 or email recreation@london.ca.

Recreation customer service hours

  • Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Registered programs

Check our  Play Your Way website to register and pay for programs that take place at Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre. 

Cancellations and closures

Check our cancellation page to ensure your program is running as scheduled.

Amenities

The Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre is a multipurpose facility featuring gymnasiums, meeting rooms, a swimming pool, fitness centre and aerobics studio.  The community centre is ideal for large or small, public or private group gatherings, including meetings, birthday parties, special events, tournaments, receptions and training events.   

The basketball court outside of Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre will be upgraded to a multi-use pad, which can be used for activities including road hockey and basketball in the summer and for ice skating and hockey in the winter. The ice rink will operate under the City’s Neighbourhood-Managed Ice Rink program and be dependent on community volunteers to operate. Learn more.

Indoor pool

This facility includes a 25-metre, 6-lane pool and a climbing wall. It also includes a change table with a lift, an electric pool lift, stair entry and a universal change room. Program offerings include recreational swims, lane swims and aquafit classes, swim lessons and aquatic leadership programs.

Visit our aquatics page to find information related to Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre's indoor pool. 

Gymnasium

The double gymnasium has a hardwood sprung floor, two electronic scoreboards, divides in half and in thirds using drop down canvas curtains, bleacher seating and is complete with four team change rooms with showers.

Other amenities include:

  • NCAA standard size court
  • Hardwood sprung floor
  • Two electronic scoreboards
  • Dividable in half or thirds with canvas curtain
  • Maximum capacity of 952 people, including viewing mezzanine
  • Half or full rental
  • Basketball: one full court or two half courts, four practice nets
  • All nets with glass backboards
  • Badminton: eight courts
  • Volleyball: three full courts
  • Floor hockey: two metal nets, one set of 12 hockey sticks
Weight room

The weight room is open for a fee to anyone aged 16 and up. 

The weight room is open seven days a week, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The weight room is also open outside of these hours while other public events are taking place in the Community Centre.  Hours may be flexible based on programming in the facility. Hours are subject to change, not including statutory holidays. 

Amenities include cardio equipment (treadmills, elliptical and exercise bike), strength equipment (free weights and universal machines) and stretch and core equipment. 

Weight room fees (taxes included)

Passes

Adult (18+)

Senior (55+)

Youth (13-17)

Daily

$5.50

$4.50

$4.25

10 admissions

$49.51

$40.53

$38.25

Three months admission

$123.75

$101.25

$95.62

One year admission

$495

$405

$382.51
Meeting room 
  • Tables and chairs
  • Capacity for 200 people standing, 150 seated
  • Dividable
  • Room A has capacity of 75 people standing, 40 seated
  • Room B has capacity of 125 people standing, 100 seated
  • Kitchen access
  • Video screens
  • White board
Conference room
  • Ideal for small group gatherings and private meetings.
  • Comfortable seating for eight people.
Aerobics room
  • Perfect for exercise classes
  • Maximum capacity of 150 people standing
  • Hardwood floors
  • Four large wall mirrors
  • Supplied with aerobics steps, gymnastic mats and yoga mats.
Kitchen
  • Counter space
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator with freezer
  • Double sink/single sink
  • Stove top and oven
Wolseley skateboard park

This skateboard park has features suitable for all levels of skaters. Features include a replica pool, rollers, a 9-stair set with rails, 2 flat and 3 double stair sets with rails, floating kickers, a quarter pipe to bank and step up combination, a bank to the floating ledge and a 30-brick euro hip. Visit our skateboard parks page to learn more about skateboard parks in the city.

Rentals

Visit our rentals page to book a space in the Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre. For more information on rental booking, call 519-661-5575 or email recreation@london.ca. 

Rental rates

Full Gym

Adult Rate   $106.50 per hour
Minor Rate  $79.88 per hour
Commercial Rate $191.70 per hour

Gym A or B

Adult Rate $48.49 per hour
Minor Rate $36.37 per hour
Commercial Rate $87.28 per hour

Combined Meeting Rooms

Adult Rate $40.58 ​​​​​​per hour
Minor Rate $30.44 per hour
Commercial Rate $73.04 ​​​​​​per hour

Meeting Room A or B

Adult Rate $29.16 ​​​​​​per hour
Minor Rate $21.87 per hour
Commercial Rate $50.94 per hour

Aerobics Room

Adult Rate  $40.58 per hour
Minor Rate  $30.44 per hour
Commercial Rate $73.04 per hour

Conference Room

Adult Rate  $29.16 per hour
Minor Rate  $21.87 per hour
Commercial Rate $52.48 per hour

Kitchen

Adult Rate  $29.16  per hour
Minor Rate  $21.87 per hour
Commercial Rate $50.94per hour

HST is not included in the above prices. 

Insurance can be purchased through the City of London or you can provide a copy of your own coverage. 

Music - SOCAN and Re:Sound charge is required

Non-alcohol events only.

Last modified:Monday, May 29, 2023