Diving headfirst into the water metaphors, the City of Calgary laid out its 25-year vision for recreation in the city, as they prepare for a population that pushes 2 million.

The long-awaited GamePLAN document was presented to members of Calgary’s Community Development Committee at their Feb. 6 meeting, with the Making Waves recommendation slated to cost up to $250 million annually.

That service level was approved at committee. It still must be approved at a full meeting of Calgary city council.

Heather Johnson, director of recreation and social programs with the City of Calgary, told councillors that the city’s recreation system isn’t measuring up to community expectations.

“Well, it didn’t happen overnight. The problems we’re facing today have been building over decades,” Johnson said.

She said it’s a testament to how much the core facilities in Calgary have been “loved” by citizens.

“Secondly, it’s the result of a choice to not invest,” Johnson said.

“The vast network of facilities that characterize Calgary’s recreation system in the 70s and 80s still exists today, and while every effort is made to extend the life of those facilities, Calgary has changed around them, and they no longer reflect a city of over 1.5 million people.”

Johnson said that recreation didn’t have a strategic guiding document like transit’s Route Ahead, or Parks and Open Spaces Imagine Parks plan.  She asked that committee members support the Making Waves scenario to “keep up with population growth and close gaps in services.”

Florent Le Berre, manager of strategy, planning, innovation and equity with Calgary Recreation said that the majority of the city’s recreation facilities were built more than 40 years ago and are at the end of their useful lives.

“Inconsistent funding from all levels of government has led to prolonged periods without investment, and while a handful of larger facilities were built in the early 2000s and late 2010s, they were insufficient to meet demand as they all reached capacity shortly after opening,” he said.

“We now stand at a crossroads.”

Going under, Staying afloat and Making Waves

Three scenarios presented to councillors included investments of between $0 and $250 million annually. Under the ‘Going Under’ service level, there would be fewer swim lessons and bookable ice times, with overall service levels going down. This would be an annual investment of between $0 and $30 million.

‘Staying Afloat’ would require an annual investment of between $100 million and $150 million and would add 10 per cent more swim lessons and same bookable hours on ice sheets. It would double hours in fieldhouses and athletic parks and keep overall service levels the same.

The ‘Making Waves’ scenario calls for annual investment of $200 million to $250 million and would mean 40 per cent more swim lessons, 25 per cent more bookable ice time hours and 2.5 times more fieldhouse and athletic park hours. Overall service levels would improve, according to the scenario.

“The Making Waves scenario is what is needed to serve Calgarians, regardless of where they live,” said Le Berre.

“But we understand that we live in an environment of competing priorities.”

Public submissions largely favoured the push for Making Waves – the largest annual investment track. Sport Calgary president and CEO, and former Olympic medal-winning speed skater, Catriona Le May Doan, said that without further investment, the sporting opportunities her group fosters won’t be accessible.

“To us, sport and recreation and activity is about part of how everyone should live, and it shouldn’t be an extra. It should be a right,” she said.

Several different sporting groups, including those from local soccer and softball clubs also delivered public presentations in support of more fields and facilities.

Natalie Wilkinson-Houghton, who was representing the Calgary Women’s Soccer Association, said the need for facilities for youth and senior levels of soccer was as a critical stage. She said the Making Waves scenario would be a “massive step” towards assuring there would be a commitment to local sports activities.

“We applaud the work that has already been put into the GamePLAN to address the critical recreation infrastructure needs and urges committee to recommend adopting the Making Waves scenario to increase access to recreational facilities throughout the city, supporting physical and mental health and playing for life in Calgary,” she said.

Don’t overlook small and medium-sized spaces: Parks Foundation

Parks Foundation Calgary CEO Sheila Taylor said that as the strategy continues to move forward, she hopes it can do more to break down barriers for community groups.

She said, however, the current plan doesn’t go far enough to address community-driven infrastructure at the small and medium level. When discussing larger facilities, Taylor said that smaller, community-led initiatives seem like a drop in the bucket. They’re an important part of the picture because they support amenities closer to home, within walking distance and accessible transportation, and allows the city’s funds to be stretched further.

“The overall message that I would like to leave today is that we’re here to support the city and community groups as this move forward, but I do have an ask that the city would consider, one, looking at small to medium-sized amenities in the future as part of an overall strategy,” she said.  

“Two, that barriers that those groups face to carrying out their project be really studied and considered, because our view at the Parks Foundation is that those barriers are increasing, and I’m not simply talking about funding barriers or other barriers that I would say that are also increasing for community groups to be able to carry their projects out.”

Steve Smythe with the Calgary Rockies softball club also said that the City could utilize the facilities they have in a much better way. He cited a 10X disparity in cost for playing on certain fields, even though the fields are virtually the same quality.

“Hence, it’s underutilized at about 60 per cent and almost no youth involvement.,” he said.

“We need a strategy to make sure we’re maximizing the youth use and accessibility of these diamonds.”

Strategy requires funding – like all the others

Ward 8 Coun. Courtney Walcott acknowledged that committee heard from Calgarians engaged in sports and there would be a larger conversation with all citizens about the cost.

He said the current estimate of $250 million is a Class 5 estimate, which means that it’s early and not detailed. It’s going to cost more, he said. The big question is how much is saved in the long term in other societal costs.

“One of the most important things that was said today was that the outcomes that you receive from a robust recreation landscape far go far beyond simply just some access,” he said.  

“It’s mental health. It’s good access. Even one person spoke about how, if you have accessible facilities across the city in an equitable fashion, that that is proven to actually be a crime reduction, a strategy for getting community involved.”

There’s a long list of capital projects at the City of Calgary, and Coun. Walcott said it will be interesting to see how the debate plays out, when you talk about the positive impacts.

“On the flip side, what I’ve also seen this week has been very straightforward in that people love to commit to strategies. I hear this from Council all the time. We love strategies. We love the housing strategy. We love GamePlan. The question will be, will we actually spend the money?” Walcott said.

“Will we support the implementation plans? Will we support the actions when it comes time to actually build these things? That is the space where Council tends to balk.”

City admin said there could be various opportunities to dig up additional funding, whether it’s from naming rights, other orders of government, and possible philanthropic efforts.

Ward 5 Coun. Raj Dhaliwal said since he was first elected, the city has been talking regularly about recreation and sports facilities.

“I am a father of kids who play soccer, and they all dream of being the next Messi, Ronaldo, Davies, but guess what? We don’t have facilities,” he said.

“Let’s get the GamePlan going. Let’s come up with a plan. Let’s get the implementation going. Next term, I’m committed to fighting to get it fully funded so our kids don’t have to wake up four in the morning, just so they can go practice.”

Ward 3 Coun. Jasmine Mian, a former Olympian, said she wouldn’t be standing in council chambers in Calgary if it weren’t for sports. She said hearing the impact of sports and coming to the city for recreational activities was something she could identify with.

She encouraged the different groups to make sure their voices were heard when it came to asking for funding.

“Today is a warm-up, because I think the real challenge is always about getting the money when the budget time comes,” she said.

“So, to everyone who showed up today, hope to see you again in 2026 and be there with you, side-by-side as a citizen to advocate for this, because I think it is really critical and important.”