Rec Report Newsletter - June/July 2024
Newsletter Spotlight
- Patron survey - the results are in!
- Swim lesson registration & important update
- Locker upgrades
- Summer camps
- Summer fitness
- Summer events
- Summer Saturdays at JDF Arena
- The Shore, Swim & ISC
- Awards galore!
- Upcoming holiday hours
Patron Survey - The Results Are In!
Thank you to everyone who weighed in on our patron survey in April. 2 lucky winners received a FREE annual pass - congratulations, Elianna and Kris!
Your insights are appreciated and we want you to know we've heard you. Here are some of the top themes that emerged from the survey.
1. Of the 294 responses 75% of respondents are either very satisfied or satisfied!
2. The most enjoyed facilities/activities were reported to be the pool and weightroom.
3. Over 120 respondents requested to keep the pool open later.
Suggested areas of improvement include:
- Improve more access to what we offer, i.e.. swimming lessons and day camps.
- More evening and weekend programming i.e. aquafit, fitness classes and general programs.
- Improve registration system.
- Replace changeroom lockers.
- Improve cleaning of changerooms.
We are now busy bees behind the scenes to adapt our operations to serve you better. Keep an eye out for improvements; some of these are already in the works. Thank you again, and if you missed the survey, complete our general feedback form anytime!
Swim Lesson Registration & Important Update
Save the dates!
Monday, June 24: Preschool swim lessons
Tuesday, June 25: School-age, private and adult swim lessons
IMPORTANT UPDATE:
To make registration days easier on everyone, WSPR has upgraded its payment processor and launched "Queue-it" to manage the high volume of website traffic. What does this mean for you on reg day? Your access to the website will start in a virtual waiting room, and everything else remains the same.
How does the virtual waiting room work?
- Anyone visiting explore.wspr.ca will be placed in a virtual waiting room. This prevents a traffic jam of visitors to the site.
- You will see a welcome message indicating you're in the waiting room and that you will be let onto the website when it's your turn.
- A live-time progress bar shows that you're moving forward in the queue.
- Wait information lets you know your estimated wait time.
- Once it's your turn, you will be automatically directed to the website to continue your registration as normal.
Please Note: Contacting reception will not result in faster service. If you need help on registration day, DM us on Facebook!
What can I expect?
Up to 5:50AM: Regular access
- Website can be accessed and browsed as normal.
5:50AM: Transfer to pre-queue
- All patrons already on the website will be automatically placed in a pre-queue and shown a countdown screen.
5:50-5:59AM: Pre-queue
- Patrons accessing the website during this time will be placed in the pre-queue and shown a countdown screen.
- The website will not be viewable from 5:50-5:59AM.
6AM: Transfer to waiting room
- Patrons in the pre-queue will be placed in the waiting room and assigned a random place in line.
- Patrons will be directed to the website in random order as the website’s capacity allows.
After 6AM: Waiting room
- Patrons accessing the website at 6AM or later will be placed directly in the waiting room and will be directed to the website on a first-come, first-served basis.
7AM: Regular access
- Website can be accessed and browsed as normal.
Who gets in first?
- Patrons accessing the website prior to 6AM will be directed from the waiting room to the website in random order.
- Patrons accessing the website after 6AM will be directed from the waiting room to the website on a first-come first-served basis.
Can I skip the line?
Contacting reception will not result in faster service, but the WSPR team is ready to help you – if you need help on registration day, DM us on Facebook! Queries can be answered much more quickly than in person or by phone.
Please review the Intelligenz Support & Help page for more information and registration tips.
Locker Upgrades
You may be excited to hear that all lockers in the changerooms are being upgraded for your convenience. The new lockers will now operate using tokens. Please visit reception to purchase tokens, available for $0.25 each.
Remember to keep a stash on hand for easy access!
Summer Camps
Calling all creative and computer-curious kiddos! Check out our science and technology summer camps led by industry masters and get hands-on experience creating video games, music videos, coding, apps, LEGO and claymation, and films (various camps for 8-14 years).
Ready to roll, but not sure where to start? Join Roll Right quad- and inline summer camp and learn how to safely progress in the sport of rollerskating (quad) and roller blading (inline). Get comfortable on the wheels and even start exploring tricks in the Thrifty Foods Skatepark! (7-12 years).
Explorers at heart? Nature preschool camp and kinderprep camp are perfect for littles who love the great outdoors and expressing themselves with art and imagination. A world of adventure awaits! (3-5 years).
Have a kid who loves to throw things? Make it productive, active and FUN in Helix Ultimate Frisbee camps. Campers will have the chance to work on throwing, catching, and movement skills in this fun-first environment. All campers will receive a disc (Frisbee) as part of the program. (9-13 years).
And, for those who love variety, try a Richardson Sport Multisport Camp! This camp is designed to give children a positive first interaction with 10 sports. Children will acquire skills they can use in hockey, tennis, soccer, volleyball, baseball, rugby, lacrosse, golf, basketball, and football. (camps for 4-6 & 7-10 years).
Summer Fitness
Take your fitness programs outdoors with our exciting new summer programs!
Save the dates; more details to come!
- Outdoor Bootcamp – Wednesdays, 6:15-7:15pm with Eugene
- Bootcamp in the Park – View Royal Park Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30pm with Alison
- FREE – Yoga in the Park at JDF– evening and morning options throughout July & August with Patricia. Location will be announced soon!
Zumba Gold: New sessions added!
Tuesdays, 10:15-11:15AM with Roxana.
Designed for active older adults and people starting their fitness journey, ZUMBA Gold® combines zesty Latin and international rhythms with easy moves to create an energizing and fun fitness experience that is less intense than regular ZUMBA. Improves balance, flexibility and cardiovascular health.
NEW DROP-IN! LIIT Workout:
Wednesdays, 10:30-11:15AM with Alison
LIIT consists of periods of low impact exercise performed in sets of intervals combined with longer periods of rest. Enjoy the benefits of cardiovascular and strength training to challenge to yourself without overtaxing your body. LIIT workout is both accessible and safe for a variety of different types of exercisers ideal for people who are older, new to exercise, or recovering from an injury.
Summer Events
Your favourite summer events are back on the roster, and some exciting new additions to the lineup are in the works.
Changemakers Gathering Festival:
Join us in honouring indigenous culture, values, and history. Coast Salish art workshops, game tent, Indigenous drum and dance groups, Indigenous artisans market, cedar weaving workshops, free bannock taco lunch, and teen zone activities.
Saturday, June 8, 2024
11AM-4PM | Starlight Stadium
Station Pride:
Celebrate diversity and inclusion at The Langford Station and enjoy live music, a selection of delicious food trucks, browsing local businesses and artist studios, and of course flights of delicious BC craft beer. Participate in the Rainbow River, WSPR's community craft project!
Friday, June 14, 2024
4-8PM | Langford Station
National Indigenous Peoples Day:
Reconnecting community and celebrating together. A warm invitation for a day of fun and community relations on the traditional Lands of the Lekwungen Peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. Canoe landing protocol practice and challenge, Indigenous artists and vendor fair, live performances, field games, guided nature walks, food trucks and more!
Friday, June 21, 2024
10AM-3PM | Royal Roads University
Keep an eye on WSPR's events calendar and stay tuned for more information about NEW skatepark events, Neighborhood Nights, StoryWalk, and back this year... Movies on the Hill!
Summer Saturdays at JDF Arena
Stay icy this summer with public skating programs starting July 6th.
Saturdays:
10AM & 11AM: Everyone Welcome
12PM & 1PM: Stick and Puck (please bring all equipment; skate shop will be closed).
2:20PM: Adult 19+ Duffer Hockey (please reserve your spot in advance; viewable 2 weeks prior to activity date).
Power West Sunset Skates in July!
Off season does not have to mean "off" ice. Become more powerful, faster and more efficient this summer! These programs have an emphasis on skating skills with and without a puck; inclusive of edge work, full ice power and small area drills. Technique is key to reach your power potential with each stride. Full hockey gear, stick and neck guard required.
Register now!
3 evening sessions for $99
July 2-4 & 9-11.
The Shore, Swim & ISC
Calling all youth!!! Join us for the last few “The Shore, Swim and ISC” Friday youth drop-ins before the school year ends.
For only $2 on June 7, 14, and 21st, youth will have access to the pool from 6:30-8PM, the ISC for sports and the new climbing wall, and The Shore youth room for games and pizza from 6:30-9PM. On June 21st staff will be setting up the new bouncy run course!
Youth nights are supervised by three WSPR youth staff and two WSPR security advocates to ensure everyone feels safe and participants abide by the "no drugs, alcohol, or jerks" policy.
Reminder that all participants must sign in to receive an admission bracelet, agree to random bag checks and be picked up no later than 9:30PM.
Youth night swims continue on Friday nights throughout the summer from 6:30-8PM.
Awards Galore
We are thrilled to announce that our very own Nicky Brown, Community Recreation Coordinator, is the proud recipient of the BCRPA Community Leadership Award. The award recognizes a leader who has contributed to making their community a healthier and more vibrant place through recreation.
We could not think of a person more deserving than Nicky for all of her hard work, inspiration, her humour, her vision and endless pursuit of improving the lives of those around her. We are so thankful to have her in our organization and the West Shore community is a better place to live because of her!
Congrats Nicky and thanks again for all you do! Check out the full media release from BCRPA.
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The Thrifty Foods Skatepark also received a prestigious accolade, the RFABC Bill Woycik Outstanding Facility Award.
The award recognizes the exceptional contribution the skatepark has made to the community and its innovative design.
A true collaborative effort, the voice of the community echoed through the design of every ramp and rail. The project prioritized sustainability by incorporating plant-based fiber into all rideable concrete surfaces and repurposing excavation materials for other construction projects. This award solidifies the Thrifty Foods Skatepark as a model facility within the recreational landscape both its construction and ongoing operations, and affirms its status as a beacon of excellence in recreational infrastructure.
Congratulations to everyone involved, and thank you for an incredible community amenity!
Upcoming Holiday Hours
| HOLIDAY | DATE | HOURS |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Day | Monday, July 1 | 6AM-3PM |
| BC Day | Monday, August 5 | 6AM-3PM |
© Copyright 2024 | West Shore Parks & Recreation. All Rights Reserved.
West Shore Parks & Recreation | 1767 Island Highway, Victoria, BC, Canada, V9B 1J1
Tel: 250-478-8384 | questions@wspr.ca