The City of Campbell River recently completed a rates and fees review of user fees within the City, which included recreation. The rates and fees for recreation were last adjusted in 2010.
The review process for recreation looked at rates and fees from 20 comparator municipalities on Vancouver Island and in the lower mainland. Adjustments were made to the rates and fees based on the overall average of what the comparator municipalities charged. This resulted in some rates going up, some rates going down and some categories being removed. The new rates and fees will come into effect on January 1, 2024.
What is different about the 2024 fitness memberships?
- In addition to fitness classes and the weight room, fitness memberships have been expanded to include racquetball, squash, wallyball, pickleball, badminton, drop-in basketball, soft tennis and table tennis.
- Six-month and nine-month membership options have been discontinued.
- The group pass discounts have been discontinued.
Have the fitness and sport drop-in rates changed?
- There were different drop-in rates for different activities. All of the activities now have the same drop-in rate. Some drop-in rates have remained the same, some have been lowered and some have increased.
- The new rates are:
- adult (19-59), $7
- senior (60+), $5
- youth (13-18), $5
- child (6-12), $3
- student (19-24, with ID), $5
If I have a membership, 10-visit fitness pass or 10-visit sport pass, what will happen on January 1, 2024?
- All fitness memberships and 10-visit passes will be expanded to include the activities listed above.
- 10-visit sports passes will be honoured until they expire and will be expanded to include the activities listed above.
I have an active membership now, can I renew my membership early for next year?
- All new passes that have an activation date of 2024 will be sold at the new 2024 prices. New memberships activated before December 31, 2023, will be sold at the 2023 rates. Existing memberships that expire before December 31, 2023, and are activated with a start date of December 31, 2023, or earlier, will be renewed at the 2023 rates; memberships that are renewed with a start date in 2024 will be renewed at the new 2024 prices. You cannot cancel a membership to buy a new one and renewing an existing membership early would be at the 2024 rates.
What happened to the court memberships (squash, racquetball, wallyball)?
- They are being discontinued. Courts are now included in the 10-visit, monthly and annual fitness passes.
Are court prime time and non-prime-time going to be the same all year round (squash, racquetball and wallyball)?
- Yes, this will be in effect all year round. We no longer have non-prime rates in the summer.
What is happening with Centennial Outdoor Pool admissions?
- Based on the success of the pilot project in 2023, fees have been waived for child and youth drop-in admissions for the 2024 summer season.
- Adult ($4) and senior ($3) drop-in rates will still apply. There is no longer a family rate.
Are facility-rental or parks and fields rates being adjusted?
- Yes. Any space rentals that have been pre-booked into 2024 are subject to the new rental fees.
Are future increases anticipated?
- Council has approved a fee increase every two years; the next one will be in January 2026, followed by one in January 2028.