Program Guidelines

Why does registration for most programs open approximately 30 days before programs start?

Our registration timelines align with Winter, Spring, and Fall seasonal cycles to streamline planning, ensure appropriate staffing, and minimize last-minute changes. This approach also allows residents to coordinate weekly schedules with other activities. Opening registration early also enables the town to adjust future offerings based on community interest and demand.

Why does swim registration open before the last day of the current session?

We understand it can be challenging to determine which level to register for when the current session is still underway. Swim registration opens approximately one to two weeks before the last day of lessons to maintain consistency with our seasonal registration timelines. While parents are encouraged to speak with their child’s instructor for guidance, instructors do not confirm pass/fail outcomes until the last class to ensure they have adequate time to assess skills and make an informed decision.

What if I register my child in the wrong swim level?

Our goal is to place your child in the class that best supports their success. If adjustments are needed after the final assessment, we will work with you to move your child to the appropriate level, subject to availability.

What if my child does not pass their swim level?

If your child does not pass, we will assist in re-enrolling them in the same level to help build their skills and confidence, ensuring they are prepared to succeed.

Why does Summer Camp registration follow different timelines?

Summer Camp registration opens earlier than other programs to help families plan for vacations, work, and childcare needs. This approach ensures residents can secure their preferred camp weeks and prepare for the summer season.

Are refunds available if I need to withdraw from a program?

Yes, we offer flexible withdrawal and refund options to support residents. If you need to withdraw, please contact us promptly, and we will guide you through the process.

Health and wellness

If you are sick or feeling unwell, please stay at home. Anyone displaying symptoms will not be admitted.

Changerooms

Patrons aged seven years or older should use the changeroom corresponding to their gender identity.

Children aged six years and under are allowed to accompany their parent or caregiver into the changeroom, regardless of gender.

Showers

All swimmers must shower thoroughly using warm water and soap before entering the pool per Ontario Pool Health Regulation 565. A swimsuit is required when using the open showers before or after your swim as nudity is strictly prohibited in shared spaces.

First Aid

Staff will follow all revised CPR and First Aid treatment processes, as amended by the Lifesaving Society, in our safety guidelines. On-deck First Aid treatment stations will be established for outdoor pools.

Swimming lessons

Spectators are asked to remain in the viewing areas.

Parents are permitted in the water for Parent and Tot lessons only.

Swimmers must bring their own goggles.

Equipment

Use of pool equipment will be at the discretion of the lifeguards.

Lifejackets will be available but participants are encouraged to bring their own. Equipment for lessons, Leadership and Waterfit classes will be available.

Swimmers must bring their own equipment such as goggles and towels.

Capacity

Each pool will have their own capacities depending on configuration.

Schedules

Schedules are subject to change and cancellations will be posted on site.

Length Swims

Open to all ages.

Lanes will not be put out for Leisure Swims.

During Length Swims, lanes will be divided into slow, medium and fast. Please use the lane appropriate for your speed and accommodate other swimmers as needed.

All swimmers must be able to swim continuously for a minimum of 25 metres. No water walking/jogging will be permitted.

Short breaks (i.e. drinking water, adjusting goggles) are allowed in the pool.

Outdoor swimming

Outdoor pools close during thunderstorms and refunds will be issued as applicable. Rain days are non-refundable as our outdoor pools remain open.

Visit the Outdoor Ice Rinks page for information specific to skating on the outdoor refrigerated ice pad at Trafalgar Park Community Centre.

Skate and helmet rentals

Skate and helmet rentals are available at Maple Grove Arena, River Oaks Community Centre*, Sixteen Mile Sports Complex and Trafalgar Park Community Centre during scheduled recreational skating. Some conditions apply.

• Helmet only $3.09 plus tax
• Skates only $6.13 plus tax
• Combo $7.32 plus tax

Skate and helmet rentals cannot be paid for or reserved online. Quantities are limited and while supplies last.

*Skate and helmet rentals are only available at River Oaks Community Centre during weekend and holiday recreational skates.

Capacity

Admission standards and capacity restrictions apply. Walk-ins are welcome as space permits.

When available, spaces will be offered to those waiting 15 minutes after the program start time.

Schedules

Schedules are subject to change and cancellations will be posted on site.

Health and wellness

If you are sick or are feeling unwell, please stay at home. Anyone displaying symptoms will not be admitted.

Pre-registration

To save time, please pre-book and pay for your skate or shinny drop-ins online. Pre-registration is not available for the refrigerated outdoor rink at Trafalgar Park.

Skate patrol

Skate patrol staff enforce our rules and ensure a safe skating environment for everyone. Failure to respect these rules and follow instruction from the skate patrol may result in ejection.

Safety

Please report any accidents or injuries to the skate patrol or arena staff immediately.

Only persons wearing skates are permitted on the ice surface.

No food or drinks are allowed on the ice surface. Food and beverage can be consumed while seated in spectator areas only.

Helmets are strongly recommended for all programs and mandatory for shinny hockey.

Parents or guardians of children under 10 must remain in the designated rink during their child's ice activity.

Coaching is not permitted during any recreational skates or shinny hockey.

Recreational skating

All skaters must skate in the same direction.

Town-approved skating aids are available for those who require assistance and must remain within designated skate areas while on the ice.

Wheelchairs are allowed on the ice if a responsible person age 16 or older with skates on accompanies the participant.

Not allowed during public skates:

• General horseplay, fighting, or deliberate interference with other skaters.
• Figure skating; skating backwards, erratically or at excessive speeds.
• Tag or games.
• No pucks, hockey sticks, chairs, strollers, or other equipment are allowed on the ice surface except for town-approved skate aids.

Ice maintenance

Ice maintenance will be performed prior to the scheduled end time of recreational skating and shinny programs. Skaters will be directed to leave the ice at that time. Skaters and players must stay off the ice until the Zamboni (ice resurfacer) has returned to the garage with the doors fully closed.

Planning your visit

Regular admission requirements apply and all users must be 14 years of age or older to enter the fitness centres. Visit the Drop-in Programs page for information about signing up for workouts, etc.

Capacities will be posted visibly for all rooms including washrooms and changerooms.

Health and wellness

The town encourages residents to remain kind, considerate and respectful of each other. If you are sick or feel unwell, please stay at home.

Programming

Our fitness centres offer workout sessions, indoor group exercise classes, and gymnasium activities.

Personal training

Our personal training sessions start as low as $43.05+ tax per visit. Ask our customer service staff and they would be happy to connect you with a trainer.

Only personal trainers employed by the Town of Oakville are allowed to train clients in our facilities. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Squash and racquetball

River Oaks Community Centre courts continue to be available for booking through Active Oakville.

Due to increased demand for squash programming at Glen Abbey Community Centre, we will be temporarily using the Gigasports online booking system for court bookings at this location. In order to use Gigasport, you must be a member of this free system with a separate login and password. If you are not familiar with the Gigasport online booking system, our Glen Abbey team can assist.

Only one player is required to register. Please request that your playing partner check-in with Customer Service at the facility before accessing the courts. Players must bring their own equipment. Protective eyewear is required.

Equipment and etiquette

Appropriate indoor athletic shoes should be worn. You must bring indoor shoes to change into when outdoor paths are wet and/or salted.

Participants must wipe down equipment before and after usage.

Missed classes/cancellations

If you have registered for fitness centre access and can no longer attend your timeslot, we ask that you withdraw from your session. This allows the first person on the waitlist to be accommodated.

If you are withdrawing more than 24 hours in advance, you can withdraw through your online account. If it’s within 24 hours of your program, please call the community centre you chose directly to withdraw.

Spotters

A friend can assist you with spotting.

Lost and found

The Town of Oakville is not responsible for lost or stolen belongings.

Please leave valuables at home. For health and safety reasons, lost and found items such as towels and water bottles will be disposed of daily.

Seniors Services memberships

An annual membership is required to register for Seniors Services drop-in and registered programs and are available for purchase online or by calling 905-815-2000.

Exciting changes to our Seniors Services membership are coming! We are adding unlimited access to our Seniors Services drop-in programs* with any current or new membership effective July 2, 2024.

Based on feedback from our members, Seniors Services Advisory Committees, and Seniors Services Policy and Review Board, we are eliminating the $1 program fee for Seniors Services drop-in programs and moderately increasing the annual membership fees (taxes included) as follows:

• $56 for 50-79 years old
• $28 for 80-89 years old
• Free for 90+ years old
• Non-residents are charged an additional $10 on membership purchases.

*This includes unlimited access to Seniors Services drop-in activities only. This does not include special events, trips, pre-registered programs, or any other activities where more than $1 is charged. Please note that a Seniors Services membership is still required to register for any seasonal programming offered by Seniors Services.

Visit the Memberships page for information about seniors' discounts on other memberships including fitness and recreation.

What to know about changes to the Seniors Services membership

Current members are reminded that they do not need to take any action regarding memberships at this time. The new rate will be effective upon membership renewal. Memberships can be purchased online or at community centres.

We will discontinue the 10-visit Seniors Services membership as the $1 admission fee will no longer be required. Those with remaining credits will be refunded.

The increased annual membership fee allows us to eliminate the per-visit drop-in fee, providing a more streamlined and cost-effective experience for our members.

Members can enjoy unlimited access to all drop-in activities without additional costs. Eliminating the per-visit drop-in fee speeds up the check-in process and reduces annual program costs.

Seniors aged 80 to 89 will receive a 50% discount on the membership fee. Seniors aged 90 and older will continue to enjoy free membership.

Fee assistance opportunities are available through Recreation Connection to ensure that everyone can benefit from these exciting changes. To apply for fee assistance, please visit the Affordable Access page. Our Customer Service team can support, or we can connect you to our Community Engagement Specialists for more information on the application process.

The new membership specifically pertains to Seniors Services drop-in programs. Access to other town services or facilities will remain unchanged unless otherwise communicated.

We consulted our Seniors Services members, Seniors Services Advisory Committees, and Seniors Services Policy and Review Board. This change was approved by Council on Monday, June 17, 2024.

Still have questions? Please email recreation@oakville.ca or call 905-815-2000.

Newsletters

Visit the Seniors Services page to browse the most recent copy of the seniors' newsletter and learn more about our programs and services.

Drop-in programs

To register for Seniors 50+ drop-ins like pickleball and table tennis using our drop-in program registration system, you may need to create a new account.

Learn more by visiting our Create an Online Account page. If you have questions regarding previous registrations or your account history, please call 905-815-2000.

Without Walls (WOW)

Enjoy 30 to 60-minute multi-person phone conversations covering various topics with great instructors and presenters! Join us from home for our free and interactive Without Walls (WOW) phone-based programs.

For more information on culture programs, drop-ins, memberships, camps, and school and group visits, go to the Programs and Activities page.  

The following Table Tennis Play Guidelines are in place to ensure the safety, enjoyment, and guaranteed play of all participants. Those unable to comply with these guidelines will be asked to leave.

Players are reminded that game play is not determined by skill level, but by order of players listed on the board. We welcome participants of all skill levels during this non-competitive Table Tennis drop-in program.

Tables are played as singles to start and transition to doubles as more players arrive and join in to 11 points.

At the start of the program:

• The first player to arrive writes their name and arrival time on the white board. The second player to arrive writes their name and arrival time on the board.
• The first two players on the board can begin play at the program start time.
• New players should add their names to the board as they arrive. This process continues until all courts are full.
• After 15 minutes of play, single players may finish their point before opening the court to doubles play.
• Single players can remain on court and invite new players to join if they have not reached their 15 minutes of play. A new game begins at this time.
• New players should add their name and arrival time to the board if courts are full and wait until their turn to play.
• Once the game is over/time allotment reached, player(s) who have played the longest (arrived first) will exit the game and new player(s) will join in. The remaining players with time remaining may stay and play.

Players are required to rotate off after three games or 15 minutes of play (whichever comes first). Players can add their name to the board again at that time.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Coaching or teaching — including structured guidance, instruction, or any transactional training services — is not permitted during drop-in or reserved recreational programs. While casual pointers or tips are allowed, they must remain informal and incidental to recreational activities, without resembling ongoing instruction. Town staff may use discretion in determining whether an activity qualifies as teaching or is simply informal assistance.

Only Town of Oakville staff, approved partners, and clients paying the commercial/CORE/residential rental rate are permitted to provide formal lessons or personal training services in our facilities.