Keeping Kids in the Game
Struggling to pay for sports and activities for your kids this year or simply want to save some money? Check out this guide with lots of opportunities and ways to cut costs or get financial assistance to keep your kids on the ice and in other sports.
Financial Assistance
KidSport- Eligibility:For kids under 18 -Family falling under CRA low income, unemployed, on AISH or receiving income support through the AB government
Assistance: Up to $250 a year for program/club registration
Jumpstart- Eligibility: Kids ages 4-18 -Family falling under CRA low income. Mainly intended for rec/house league level sports and physical activities.
Assistance: up to $600 for program fees, equipment and transportation with a limit of $300 per activity.
Lace Em Up- Eligibility: Combined income of $40 000 or less. Only for hockey
Assistance: Up to $1000 per child
Westside Recreation Centre- Eligibility: Family falling under CRA low income not recieving assitance from another recreation centre
Assistance: Dependent on income. Will have to pay a portion
City of Calgary Fee Assistance- Eligibility:Under 18 (program for adults as well) - Family falling under CRA low income, receiving support through AB government, on AISH or Resettlement Assistance
Assistance: Up to 4 programs a year with subsidy covering 90% of program fee to max of $100 per program and max of $250 per year.
- 75% off general admission prices and passes
The Following Places also give discounts for those with City of Calgary fee assistance cards:
Cardel Rec South- $100 program discount per session (fall, winter, summer/spring) and 10x family admission card for skating/shinny per family
Vivo- 75% subsidy on programs max of $300 a year, 50% subsidy on facility passes
Marda Loop Community Association- 50% subsidy on programs
Talisman Centre: 75% discount on admissions and memberships
Trico Centre: 60% memberships or drop in rates
YMCA:
Comrie Sports Bank- Eligibility: Kids eligible for any of the above programs are eligible
Assistance: Provides used and new equipment for various sports. While they started with hockey they have since expanded to other sports.
Deals
Sports Programs:
First Shift $199
Have a kid aged 6-10 that wants to try out hockey for the first time? Get a full set of equipment, including skates and 6 hours of lessons for a great price.
Kidzfirst $50 per kid, $100 per family
For only $50 kids get sessions in baseball, hockey, aussie rules football, and basketball as well as discounts on programs at Trico Centre. Some prior experience in these sports is required for some of these sessions.
Drop in Deals
Public skating
East Calgary Twin Arenas offers free public skating. Many community rinks also offer free public skating for community members. Brentwood and Crowchild Arena have public skating for only $1. Kids under 5 can skate for free at the Olympic Oval.
Stat Holidays
Many of the city's pool and rinks offer free drop in times on public holidays.
Swim
Select City of Calgary Pools offer $2 adult and $1 child swim admission on Sundays
Trico Centre offers $3 for Family Fun Swim Nights n sundays and $3 admission for the last hour the pool is opening other nights.
Leisure Centres
Southland Leisure Centre offers $3 admission from 9-10pm Monday and Wednesday and 50% admission Tuesdays from 4-10.
Village Square Leisure Centre offers $3 admission from 9-10pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.Get 50% admission Wednesday from 4-10 and Saturday from 7-10.
YMCA offers free memberships to all Grade 6 students. Youth from other grades can get in for $4 on Fridays after school.
Ivivva, located in Chinook and Market Mall offer free Sunday morning dance, yoga ad other fitness classes for kids and other events throughout the year.
Sports Gear
SportChek If your child is on a sports team sign up for a team assist card to get discounts, 5% cash back and some free skate sharpenings. Sportchek also carries used kids skates and snowboards for a good price.
Used Sports Equipment Try 2nd Chance Sports or Play It Again Sports for used sports equipment. Kids consignment stores and thrift stores will also sometimes have great deals and sports equipment that's great to experiment with. Kijiji is also great for buying used sports equipment and you can set up an alert for the next size up in skates or gear so you can buy in advance if any good deals pop up.
Youth and Teens
Volunteer- Many recreation centres have volunteer programs set up where teens can volunteer and get a free pass and in the future get a job there.
Beltline Youth Centre- Youth ages 12-24 can come to the Beltline Youth Centre for free to workout, play sports in the gymnasium and much more.
Earn a Bike Club Kids ages 11-17 can learn about bikes and maintenance, go on bike rides, receive a healthy snack and earn their own bike, lock and helmet.
