Programs, courses and registration

The Province of Ontario has introduced regulations that require proof of vaccination before entering some indoor settings.

In keeping with those regulations, as of September 22, the City of London will require people to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their vaccination status to access certain City recreation programs, services and facilities.

Proof of vaccination will be required to access select services and programs taking place at community centres, arenas and indoor aquatics facilities.

Visit our proof of vaccination web page for more information.

Spaces must be reserved in advance of a program for each person participating.

Please arrive no earlier than 10 minutes before your program is scheduled to start, and leave the facility as soon as your program ends.

Late arrivals will not be permitted to enter the building after 5 minutes of the program starting.

Please come ready to participate in your program clothes and bring minimal personal belongings.

Outside food and drink, with the exception of water bottles, is not permitted.

Participants are permitted and encouraged to bring a filled water bottle to programs. Water fountains will not be available for drinking from directly, but water bottles can be refilled at filling stations.

If you are no longer able to attend, please ensure you withdraw to open up a spot for others to attend.

Arena and community centre openings and programs have been modified to comply with public health guidelines and Provincial restrictions, including physical distancing, group size restrictions and staggered start times.

All persons entering the facility will be required to complete a health assessment, including guardians and staff. Participants and caregivers/spectators will be screened for symptoms upon arrival, which will be recorded on the attendance sheet and kept on record for purposes of contact tracing. Physical distancing will be enforced during the screening and sign-in process. Caregivers/spectators will be required to provide their contact information during screening for the purposes of contact tracing. Staff will be keeping daily records of anyone (program participants, staff and essential visitors, for example) entering the program setting who stays for 15 minutes or longer to allow for contact tracing in the event of a confirmed COVID-19 case or outbreak.

Masks are required to be worn at all times in the facility for those age 2 and up. The only exception to this is for participants engaging in physical activity such as fitness programs or sports. Participants engaging in physical activity programs may remove their mask once participating in their program while maintaining a distance of at least 2 metres from others, or a distance of at least 3 metres during yoga programs. These participants must wear a mask while travelling to and from their program, and while in other areas of the facility such as washrooms. Masks will not be provided for participants.

Staff will be required to complete a daily health screening and will be wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), as required. Physical distancing within program groups will be enforced, with the exception of staff interventions for behaviour management and issuing first aid.

Program schedules and registration limits have been set in advance to ensure that physical distancing and equipment/surface cleaning can follow guidelines and recommendations. 

Many other strategies will be in effect to meet provincial guidelines and public health regulations.

Protocols will be in place if a program participant or spectator begins to show symptoms of COVID-19 while in program, including immediate notification to the parent/guardian and the need for urgent pick-up. The participant will wait in an isolation area with a staff member until pick-up. A parent/guardian or emergency contact will be required to pick up the participant within one hour of receiving notification.

Urgent questions can be forwarded to recreation@london.ca. We will reply as soon as possible.

Recreation program opportunities will be available for Londoners of all ages, including a selection of children, youth, adult, and older adult program options. Programs will be scheduled at community centres and arenas across the city and will include a selection of daytime and evening participation options. 

Costs vary by program. Please refer to the Play Your Way online for pricing. Play Your Way financial assistance is available for those who qualify (see below).

Registration is available by phone at 519-661-5575 or through Play Your Way online.

For drop-in and single-day program options, participants can register on the third Friday of each month at 8:30 a.m. for programs running the following month. This new registration schedule will be piloted for our fall program season, September to December:

• September drop-in and single-day programs will open for registration on Friday, August 20, at 8:30 a.m.
• October programs will open for registration on Friday, September 17 at 8:30 a.m.
• November programs will open for registration on Friday, October 15 at 8:30 a.m.
• December programs will open for registration on Friday, November 19 at 8:30 a.m.

Pre-registration is required for all programs, and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Participants under the age of 10 must have a parent or guardian over the age of 16 accompany them through the screening process and to the program space. Participants under the age of 18 may come to their scheduled program with a maximum of one parent/caregiver to spectate. No other spectators will be allowed to enter the facility.

In cases where parent/caregiver attendance is mandatory, the supervising adult must be at least 16 years of age.

Floor Hockey – A CSA approved helmet with face mask is mandatory for ALL children AND parent/caregivers.  Participants are required to supply their own fitted helmet and will not be allowed to play without one.  No outside sticks will be allowed and will be supplied by the City of London.

Fitness and Yoga – Please bring your own mat.

Children’s Art – Please wear clothes you are prepared to get messy.  Unless stated in the description/alert and or confirmation text, all other supplies are included.

Adult Art – Unless stated in the description/alert and or confirmation text all supplies will be extra.  The list of supplies will be on your receipt or you will be contacted by instructor prior to the first class or provided a list on first day of program.   Fees for supplies will vary by class chosen.

Rock Climbing – All equipment is supplied.  Please wear comfortable clothing and clean running shoes.

Sports – Please wear comfortable clothing and indoor non marking running shoes.

Tennis/Badminton/Pickleball/Squash – Bring your own racquet.

Music – Bring you own instrument based on the class you registered for (ie. Guitar, Ukulele).

PLEASE NOTE:  The City of London is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen items belonging to participants or spectators.  Please secure your items and leave valuables at home.

Urgent questions can be forwarded to recreation@london.ca. We will reply as soon as possible.

Programs will run rain or shine unless the weather is severe. Some programs may also be cancelled if the Middlesex-London Health Unit issues a heat alert. Participants will be contacted by phone and/or email if the program is cancelled.

Yes, children must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver who is at least 16 years old.  Parent/caregiver will be expected to participate with their child. The majority of our family program fees cover the cost of one child and parent/caregiver to attend unless otherwise stated at the description level.  Some programs have options to add another child for an additional cost shown on the program description.

You can register additional children online, by phone or in person.

If the program requires both child and parent to pay a fee it will be indicated at the description level.

Only if they are registered and meet the program requirements to register.  Children not registered in the program will not be allowed to enter the facility, due to COVID-19 measures in place.

Yes, you must attend all classes in order to receive your certification.  No exceptions.

Do I need to pass an exam/test in order to get my leadership certification (LIT, Babysitting)?

Some of our classes require you to write and pass an exam to get the certification.  Instructor of classes will advise passing grade depending on the course taken.

Yes, you must have a partner and the fee is per person.

To be eligible for Play Your Way Program, applicants must be:

• 18 years of age or older
• City of London residents
• Have a family income that falls within the ranges below, based on Statistics Canada’s 2020 After Tax Low Income Cut-Offs (LICOs)

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Londoners receiving Ontario Works or ODSP automatically qualify for Play Your Way funding.

Bring or mail your completed application form with copies of supporting documents to one of the locations listed at the end of this document. Please note, if you are presenting information on behalf of a family member who is 18, it must be accompanied with a signed letter from the individual consenting to the release of this information on his/her behalf. Any information you provide will be returned to you or destroyed, as directed by you.

1. For identification purposes, please provide any one of the following documents for each family member:

• Birth certificate
• Canadian Citizenship, permanent resident card or Refugee documents
• Certificate of Indian Status
• Canadian Passport
• Valid Ontario driver’s license or Ontario Photo ID card

2. The following is a list of applicable proofs of income. Please attach a current copy of one of these sources:

• Canada Revenue Agency notice of assessment from the current year for each adult in the household, showing line #236 (net income)
• Canada Revenue Agency Goods & Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax stating family net income
• Canada Child Tax Benefit summary stating family’s Adjusted Annual Income
• Government benefits stub: OW, ODSP/ACSB, EIB, CCP, OAS, GAINS, etc or a direct deposit statement

If you cannot provide the information as listed above, please provide the following:

• Two consecutive and current pay/income stubs for each adult with earnings as well as 60 days of bank statements
• Other household income such as child or spousal support, rental income, etc.
• Refugee: Provide a copy of any government document that confirms you are receiving support under the Resettlement Assistance Program or Interim Federal Health Program. We can approve Fee Assistance for anyone who has come to Canada as a refugee and has not been sponsored by a family or group. We cannot accept immigration papers because they do not tell us that you are a refugee covered by these programs.

If you are unable to provide proof of income documents, you may submit a signed letter from a representative of a social agency or religious institution that lists all family members, verifies your total family income, and includes your address. This includes letters from shelters or services for homeless. All letters must be printed on agency letterhead.

3. Proof of Residency in London:

• Rent receipts that show address and name of applicant
• Lease or mortgage agreement
• Property tax bill
• Current utility bill
• Current Child Tax Benefit statement
• Valid Ontario Driver’s License

Email your application form and required documentation to recreation@london.ca, or call 519-661-5575 to inquire about submitting paperwork in person.

Eligibility for Play Your Way Fund will be assessed annually for those with regular income that does not vary or those receiving government benefits such as OW, ODSP, CPP, GAINS, OAS, OSAP or other government benefits. Customers with irregular income will be assessed at a minimum of 6-month intervals, or more often as required.

These can be purchased at the following locations:

• Bostwick Community Centre - 2nd Floor Service London Counter
• Citi Plaza, Parks and Recreation Office (355 Wellingtion Street, Suite 248)
• Canada Games Aquatic Centre
• Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre
• Hamilton Road Seniors' Centre and Community Centre
• Kiwanis Seniors' Community Centre
• North London Optimist Community Centre
• South London Community Pool
• Storybook Gardens
• Online through Play Your Way Online.

​The balance of your gift card can be put towards your purchase and the remainder can be paid by cash, debit, VISA or Mastercard.

​Please treat your City of London Recreation gift card like cash!  The City is not responsible for lost or stolen gift cards.

​Yes.  You can check your balance in two ways:

1.  Visit any of the participating City locations with your gift card and a customer service staff member will assist you.

2.  Call 519-661-5575 and have your gift card number available.

​Visit one of the participating City locations with your gift card to reload it or call 519-661-5575 to pay by credit card.

No. 

No.